Arthur Anae (right) with Samoa’s Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt who says he backs the petition.Facebook / Anae Arthur Anae
More than 45,000 people have signed a petition demanding equal treatment of visitors from New Zealand’s Pacific neighbours.
At the moment they must apply for a visitor visa, provide proof of funds for the duration of their stay and could be asked to get an x-ray or doctor’s check to show they’re in “good health”.
But the petition wants visitors from six Pacific nations to be treated the same as travellers from 60 other countries – that it says are eligible for a cheaper more straight forward electronic authority to enter Aotearoa.
The petitioner, former National MP Arthur Anae, told Checkpoint’s Lisa Owen discrimination against Pacific peoples travelling to New Zealand needed to end.
“At this point of time 3.2 billion people around the world can access New Zealand direct or via Australia and be issued a visitor’s visa on arrival at the airport. The less than 16 million people of the Pacific have been denied this opportunity for far too long,” Anae said.
When challenged on the fact that people accessing the electronic authority also face barriers such as still having to have sufficient funds to sustain themselves while in New Zealand and also having to process online documentation and pay a fee Anae said they were not the same barriers put on people from the Pacific.
“We can meet those no problem. And the fees they have nothing to do in the size that we have to pay.
“All I am asking for, treat the people of the Pacific equal,” Anae said.
Anae said he wrote to the [immigration] minister and the prime minister last year describing it as a sad situation.
“I just said this question, close your eyes and put yourself in this position. Your mother’s died, your father’s died, or your brother or sister or your child, and you can’t come to the funeral.
No matter what the emergency Pacific people have to make an application and pay a fee before they can come to New Zealand, he said.
“Why are we discriminated [against] this way all the time by the New Zealand immigration office.”
Anae said he wanted to make it very clear who he thought was to blame.
“It is the New Zealand Immigration Office and the minister responsible who doesn’t give a damn about us,” Anae said.
When asked what kind of response he had had from government Anae said he had had none.
“Nothing. The minister hasn’t responded to anything I have asked in anyway at all.”
It was pointed out to Anae that the highest number of overstayers as a percentage are from some Pacific Island countries. When he was asked if he thought that was the reason why there are stricter requirements he had this response.
“That’s true, but that’s based on the few numbers that are here and taken into consideration all the other people. But the fact is, as I just said, if you made it easier for people to come and go, they don’t need to overstay.”
Anae said he intended to present his petition to Parliament next month.
“We present the petition on the 11th of February, asking for the petition to go … to Parliament so that the members of Parliament can have a conscious vote on the outcome of that.”
He said what he wanted was to have a select committee process so parliamentarians themselves could hear from people and understand how they had been treated in comparison to others.
“And they can make the decision if they think this is right or wrong.”
“I believe 95 percent of people [in] this country have no idea, no idea, how the Pacific people are treated by New Zealand immigration.
RNZ has approached the office of Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for comment.
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During the last week the clinic did over 100 extractions, on top of check-ups and cleaning, Dr Isha Woodhams says.
A pop-up clinic offering free dental care in Wairoa has been overwhelmed with demand in an area that has not had a full-time dentist for half a decade.
The clinic is a joint project between Health New Zealand, the iwi Ngāti Kahungunu and Hawke’s Bay’s Golden Apple dentists.
Patients are being prioritised according to need, and there have been a lot of them keen to get in the chair, with the clinic’s two week run almost over.
Dr Isha Woodhams of Golden Apple Dental volunteers her time at the clinic.
She told Checkpoint over the last week they had done over 100 extractions, on top of check-ups and cleaning.
Woodhams said that number of extractions was far higher than what you would see in a community that had been well serviced.
“There is a lot of unmet demand from just deferred care. So, we’re seeing a lot of patients in pain, a lot needing fillings, just basic dental care.”
The pop-up clinic has brought overwhelming demand, with some patients waiting as long as three hours to be seen.
“We have had patients booked in, but we’ve been accommodating patients that have been turning up and waiting.
“There’s quite a lot of people in pain, even some facial swellings and infections.”
While historically there had always been a dentist in Wairoa, Woodhams said due to a national shortage of dentists there had not been one in the town for over half a decade.
The Kahungunu Executive, a Māori health provider in the area has put in a weekend locum service, but it is not enough to meet demand.
The charitable trust has also recently acquired a full-time clinic with two chairs, but the challenge now is staffing it.
“We’ll be doing everything we can to help find a clinician, a long-term solution for the clinic.”
Woodhams said there were multiple factors that made it difficult for people in Wairoa to go outside of the district to access dental care.
“The region, a couple of years ago, was badly affected by the floods, and there’s very low socio-economic demographics here. So, it’s a huge barrier to leave for routine care.”
The clinic has been offering all of its services for free, something Woodhams said patients had been extremely grateful for.
“One patient misunderstood, they thought that they had to pay and they were extremely relieved. She was almost in tears when we said it was free.
“It’s extremely rewarding work… it’s a huge issue for many dentists to discuss fees with patients.
“We know that things have been tough for patients across the country, especially in the context of the last five years. So it’s a huge privilege to be able to provide free dental care and to just take cost out of the equation for the day.”
It is this feeling that has kept Woodham volunteering.
“It’s a privilege to practice dentistry and cost is a huge barrier, so practising in a context without it is just a blessing really.”
While her stint in the town is nearly over, she is hoping that a new dentist is not too far away.
“There’s huge funding in place at the moment from the Health New Zealand for a bonded scholarship scheme for health providers to come work in the regional areas, so I’m hopeful that someone will turn up soon.”
After two weeks in service, the clinic will wrap up on Friday.
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Diggers working at the burnt-out Bromley wastewater treatment plant on 10 June 2022.Christchurch City Council
A putrid stench lingering in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs from the city’s wastewater treatment plant is expected to persist for at least another week.
Locals have complained of nausea and headaches and say the odour from the Bromley plant is driving them inside behind closed windows and doors.
Offensive odours have plagued Bromley and neighbouring suburbs since a fire at the plant in in 2021 but some neighbours believe the pong has become worse than ever in recent days.
The fire badly damaged the plant’s two trickling filters, affecting the quality of effluent flowing into the system.
The stench left people battling nausea, worsening asthma, sleepless nights and deteriorating mental health for months.
Christchurch City Council said recent heavy rain had affected the health of oxidation ponds and treatment plant staff were trying to improve the water quality.
Environment Canterbury said since Monday it had received 530 odour reports from east Christchurch suburbs which were likely related to the plant.
Since the beginning of this year 610 residents had reported odour issues to the regional council, it said.
In a statement, the regional council’s acting compliance manager Lauren Hamilton said it was aware “and we understand that these odours are affecting people’s daily lives in very real ways”.
Environment Canterbury continued to work with the Christchurch City Council to ensure they were “meeting their consent requirements and putting suitable odour mitigation measures in place wherever practicable,” she said.
Bromley woman Tracy Andrew said the smell was “absolutely vile”.
“The smell yesterday was the worst I have smelt it for a couple years. It woke me up, just about being sick. I have turned my HRV off as it was making the house so much worse,” she said.
Andrew said she was forced to keep doors and windows closed.
Gabrielle Barry said it was unfair that people were expected to live with the smell.
“It’s horrific it gives me and my children headaches, gets in your clothes so you can’t even hang your washing out, even with all the windows shut it somehow seeps into the house,” she said.
The Bromley Wastewater Plant in May 2022.
Another Bromley woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was concerned about her health.
“Everyday coming home from work I smell that, it’s very terrible. It smells like toilets. Hopefully the council can fix it because it’s alarming for the community,” she said.
Bromley local Sharon said the smell had been strong around Maces and Ruru Roads but it was dependent on the way the wind blew.
“I’ve had enough. For a lot of people I think that are paying their rates it’s about, ‘hey you’re charging exorbitant fees for our rates but you’re making us suffer with this putrid smell in the area’,” she said.
Christchurch City Council head of three waters Gavin Hutchison said the council expected higher-than-normal odour levels to continue for at least another week.
He said the council had received 12 complaints about the smell in the last week and 14 in total this year.
“The recent period of heavy rain has significantly affected the health of several oxidation ponds. Monitoring from this week showed a drop in dissolved oxygen levels across the system. These low-oxygen conditions create an environment where odour is much more likely to be released,” he said.
“This is different from what we’ve seen in the past. During previous wet-weather events, the additional rainfall has generally supported pond recovery, improving overall pond health and preventing odour issues. However, this time the ponds have not responded in the same way. Our staff are continuing to collect and analyse data to understand why these conditions have developed on this occasion.
“We’ve also seen increased loading to the ponds, which also put more pressure on the ponds, increasing the likelihood of odour.”
Hutchison said staff were trying to minimise the odour by using all available tools to improve the ponds’ water quality.
“We know odour impacts are disruptive and we want to reassure our community that reducing them is a priority for us,” he said.
Hutchison said work started on a new $140 million sludge plant, with construction expected to take about three years.
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The New Zealand Breakers have not won any silverware in more than a decade but that could change next month.
This week the Breakers cemented their place in the final of the Ignite Cup, thanks to other results going their way, and they will face in-form NBL team the Adelaide 36ers in the decider of the new in-season competition on the Gold Coast on 22 February.
Making history as the inaugural Ignite Cup champions would be a boost for the team operating under new ownership and fighting to get into the play-offs for the NBL Championship.
Knowing the Cup champions take home $300,000, while the runners-up will get $100,000, with 60 percent of the prize money going directly to players, is a boost of a different kind.
The Breakers’ second-season head coach Petteri Koponen has not yet lifted any trophies with the Auckland-based club and said getting a trophy of any kind in any season was “not easy”.
With the Ignite Cup final a month away, Koponen does not want to look too far ahead as he realises his injury-hit roster still need to win the six remaining NBL regular season games before the focus can turn to the final to be played three days after their last scheduled game.
“Before this we have still other goals we try to achieve and we keep fighting for the play-in spot until the end, but really happy about [the Ignite Cup] and one game everything is possible.”
The back end of the season will be a battle for the Breakers who have not won more than three games in a row this season.
To achieve a run of victories without one of their standout players this season in Sam Mennenga, who broke his wrist and will miss the remainder of the season, will be a challenge that Koponen believes he has the roster to achieve.
“Rob Loe, Max Darling need to take his minutes, it’s hard to replace [Mennenga] but they need to do their job and find their way how they can help the team but everything starts from the defensive end if you can get stops and run and get to the open court everything becomes easier unfortunately we’re missing Sam but the next guys need to be ready.”
Not only will the Breakers have Mennenga missing from the starting five they are also without injured American import Rob Baker who was getting regular minutes from tip off.
Koponen will make some tweaks to the game plan but admitted not a lot could change.
“Luckily we have enough guys, Carlin Davison, Reuben Te Rangi can play a bit more at the four spot and Reuben’s been playing really well the last few games and Max and Rob are going to take the five spot and help the team.
“It’s opportunities for other guys to step up and play more minutes and show what they can do. We still have enough depth and enough quality to compete and it’s just the mentality needs to be there and the guys that maybe didn’t play so many minutes in the beginning of the season, or a big part of the season, now with the opportunities they’ve got they need to be ready to take it.”
Koponen was not yet thinking of resting players ahead of the Ignite Cup final.
“Every game for us is like a final at the moment so every game is important and we treat it that way, we try to take it one game at a time but one month [until the final] is a long time so we don’t have that opportunity to start to think that yet, later on [maybe] but every game is the next big thing.”
Fourth placed Melbourne United are the next challenge on Friday at Spark Arena before the Breakers back up against Tasmania JackJumpers on Sunday.
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A community vigil is being held in Tauranga on Thursday evening to honour those missing and the lives lost following the landslide at Mount Maunganui.
Hosted by the Tauranga City Council, the vigil is a time for the community to “come together in aroha – to support one another”, as well as say thank you to the emergency response workers and volunteers who continue working to return loved ones to their families.
The vigil will take place from 7pm at Coronation Park with a karakia at 8pm. The event is expected to conclude around 9pm.
“Our community is grieving deeply. This is a time for us to come together with compassion, to honour the lives lost, and to wrap support around those who have been affected,” says Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale.
“There is no right way to grieve – some may come to reflect in silence, others to stand alongside neighbours and whānau. However people choose to take part, they are welcome.
“This is a gathering of the community, where we can stand in solidarity with the families affected by this terrible tragedy. We come together to say thank you to all the emergency response workers and volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to return loved ones to their families.”
A free park and ride service is running from Kawaka St to Maunganui Rd.
Flowers, notes and signs left near the site of the landslide-struck campground.RNZ/Nick Monro
What we know about the six victims of the Mt Maunganui slip
At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court on Wednesday evening, deputy chief coroner Brigitte Windley formally identified Furse-Kee after hearing evidence provided by Senior Constable Robert Stokes.
Max Furse-Kee one of the six victims of the Mount Maunganui landslide.Supplied
Stokes told the court his body was found on Monday, and detailed the forensic dental examination which determined his identity.
Furse-Kee’s body will now be released to his family.
At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court this evening, coroner Louella Dunn formally identified the 20-year-old tourist.
The remaining victims of the landslide have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, and Sharon Maccanico, 15.
Only Furse-Kee and Bernhardsson have been formally identified.
Thousands donated to landslide victims’ families
Fundraising pages set up for some of the Mount Maunganui landslide victims’ families have raised thousands of dollars, with donors paying heartfelt tribute to those trapped by last week’s massive slip.
A Givealittle page set up by Maclennan’s sister had raised almost $13,000 within 13 hours for the Morrinsville teacher’s family.
Lisa Maclennan, 50, is one of six victims of a landslide at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.Supplied / Givealittle
“She lost her life trying to save everyone else,” the page said.
“We cannot put a value on the loss of a loved one but any donations will make a difference and help this whanau through this extremely difficult time.”
A separate page has also been set up “In Loving Memory” of Furse-Kee, with $35,435 donated to the teenager’s family in less than 15 hours.
On Monday evening, about 100 people gathered at Auckland Domain to remember Maccanico, another Pakuranga College student and landslide victim.
Recovery efforts halted again over slip safety concerns
In a statement, police said work was temporarily suspended just after 10.30am on Thursday.
Recovery efforts resumed at 2pm, police said.
Work resumes at Mount Maunganui landslide on 26 January.RNZ/Nick Monro
It comes a week after the slip occurred, burying six people.
Technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered and work suspended.
Detective Inspector Lew Warner said the safety of all staff working at the scene is front of mind.
Independent review ordered into landslide as iwi call for answers
Tauranga City Council has announced an independent review into the events leading up to Thursday’s landslide at the base of Mauao, as local iwi Ngāi Te Rangi say they are seeking a thorough investigation into the cause of the slip.
Drysdale and council chief executive Marty Grenfell confirmed the review last Friday, describing the landslide as an incident of “local, national and international importance”.
“The landslide and its impacts on those affected and their families clearly represents a serious and significant incident,” Drysdale said.
“It is important that we have a clear and accurate understanding of the facts and events leading up to the landslide, so that we can ensure that the future safety of the community is appropriately safeguarded.”
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An invitation from a distant warzone landed in Suva earlier this month. The United States, with Israel’s endorsement, has asked Fiji to send troops to join a proposed International Stabilisation Force in Gaza.
For a nation proud of its United Nations peacekeeping legacy, this whispers of global recognition. Yet, it is a dangerous siren’s call, urging Fiji toward a perilous mission that risks betraying a far more urgent duty at home.
This force would swap impartial peacekeeping for coercive enforcement, serving great-power ambition over principle.
Simultaneously, Australia faces its own costly summons, involving a bill of up to US$1 billion, to take up a permanent seat on a controversial “Board of Peace” overseeing Gaza.
With no Palestinian voice and critics decrying it as a “transactional colonial solution”, this board aims not for peace but to sideline the UN, cementing a donor-driven world order.
For Oceania, these parallel invitations present a defining choice: expend finite resources on a flawed project thousands of kilometres away, or assert true regional independence by confronting the clear and present danger eroding our own communities — the transnational crime and drug epidemic.
The Gaza plan is architecturally unsound. The force Fiji is asked to join is not a traditional UN mission deployed with consent; it is a peace enforcement body expected to demilitarise a shattered, hostile territory — a task requiring overwhelming force and unambiguous political will, neither of which is guaranteed.
Designed for dysfunction The Board of Peace itself is designed for dysfunction, acting as a parallel structure to the UN Security Council where influence is bought, not earned.
For Australia, the billion-dollar question is stark: is this investment in distant geopolitical theatre wiser than addressing the existential crisis in its primary sphere of influence?
This moment mirrors a recent lesson from Europe. When President Trump targeted Greenland, European nations stood collectively on the principle of territorial integrity, forcing a retreat.
Their unity demonstrated that defending sovereignty collectively is the only way smaller states are protected from the predatory actions of larger ones.
For the Pacific, the lesson is clear: our security lies in collective regional resolve, not in subsidising external power plays that undermine the very multilateral rules that protect us.
This dynamic exposes the core hypocrisy of the new transactional order. It invites regions like ours to help manage conflicts born of imperial histories and great-power rivalries, while the same powers show a willingness to disregard the sovereignty of smaller states when it suits their strategic whims.
The Greenland episode is not an isolated fantasy; it is a blueprint. If economic coercion can be levelled against a NATO ally for territory, what guarantees exist for nations in the Pacific, whose strategic waterways and exclusive economic zones are equally coveted?
Enshrines coercion The Board of Peace model enshrines this very coercion, asking nations to pay for a voice in a system that inherently devalues the sovereign equality that the UN Charter promises.
While Gaza beckons with false prestige, a real war is destroying our social fabric. Fiji’s National Security Strategy identifies the methamphetamine epidemic as a top-tier threat (p. 19). Record drug busts reveal not success, but the staggering scale of invasion.
To even contemplate diverting military and political focus to Gaza is to declare this domestic war secondary. It begs a foundational question: what is the ultimate purpose of sovereignty if not to deliver safety and security to one’s own people first?
This is the primary duty of any state. When institutions are eroded by cartels while security forces look abroad, that duty has failed.
This crisis is the true test of our regional architecture. The traffickers’ networks are transnational, exploiting fragmented governance and weak maritime surveillance. Their success is a direct result of our collective vulnerability.
To confront them requires a consolidation of sovereignty, not its diversion. Every police officer, intelligence analyst and naval patrol boat committed to a quagmire overseas is a resource stripped from guarding our own shores.
Diplomatic minefield The political capital spent navigating the diplomatic minefield of Gaza is capital not spent rallying the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to adopt a wartime footing against a clear, shared enemy. We cannot allow the spectre of one crisis to blind us to the substance of another.
The strategic response lies not in the Middle East, but in our own waters. Australia must make up its mind. That US$1 billion — a sum that could transform regional security — could and should be the cornerstone of a bold, coordinated campaign against the drug crisis, championed through the Forum.
I am not arguing for a return to failed, militarised prohibition. I propose a holistic, regional compact built on:
Integrated policing: A permanent regional Task Force with real-time intelligence fusion to disrupt trafficking syndicates and their finances;
Community resilience: Co-designed programs creating economic alternatives for youth and supporting rehabilitation to erode the cartels’ demand; and
Institutional integrity: Major initiatives to shield judiciaries and border services from corruption, ensuring the rule of law is an asset.
In a world of transactional great-power politics, Australia must consciously encircle the Pasifika. This means investing politically and financially in the PIF, respecting its priorities and heeding its calls.
Addressing this crisis would be an act of enlightened self-preservation for Australia, and a lifeline for the region. The model exists in our history: the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, known as RAMSI, succeeded because it blended Australian resources with Pasifika personnel and local knowledge. We must summon that spirit again for a more complex fight.
The invitations to Gaza are a test of strategic identity. For Fiji, it is a test of resisting the seductive glare of distant drama for the sober duty of safeguarding the homeland.
Choice for Australia For Australia, it is a choice: to fund a board that undermines global order or to invest in a sovereign regional compact against a shared existential threat.
True leadership is demonstrated not by saying a reflexive “yes” to powerful patrons, but by having the wisdom to say “no” when their wishes conflict with fundamental principles of multilateralism and life-and-death needs at home.
Europe showed that collective defence of sovereignty is how smaller states secure their future. For the Pasifika, our path to security and independence does not run through the rubble of Gaza. It runs through the strengthened, cooperative spirit of our own Blue Continent.
Choosing this closer, harder path is the mark of a region that truly knows where it belongs. It is the only choice that builds a legacy of genuine security, leaving our children a future defined not by the crises we attended elsewhere, but by the community we fortified here.
Ro Naulu Mataitiniis a Fijian high chief of Rewa Province. A founding member of the People’s Alliance Party, he now serves as an apolitical member of Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs and is the chairman of Rewa Provincial Holdings Company Limited. He is a retired security executive with the United Nations. This article appeared first on the Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre at the Australian National University and is republished under Creative Commons.
A community vigil is being held in Tauranga on Thursday evening to honour those missing and the lives lost following the landslide at Mount Maunganui.
Hosted by the Tauranga City Council, the vigil is a time for the community to “come together in aroha – to support one another”, as well as say thank you to the emergency response workers and volunteers who continue working to return loved ones to their families.
The vigil will take place from 7pm at Coronation Park with a karakia at 8pm. The event is expected to conclude around 9pm.
“Our community is grieving deeply. This is a time for us to come together with compassion, to honour the lives lost, and to wrap support around those who have been affected,” says Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale.
“There is no right way to grieve – some may come to reflect in silence, others to stand alongside neighbours and whānau. However people choose to take part, they are welcome.
“This is a gathering of the community, where we can stand in solidarity with the families affected by this terrible tragedy. We come together to say thank you to all the emergency response workers and volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to return loved ones to their families.”
A free park and ride service is running from Kawaka St to Maunganui Rd.
Flowers, notes and signs left near the site of the landslide-struck campground.RNZ/Nick Monro
What we know about the six victims of the Mt Maunganui slip
At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court on Wednesday evening, deputy chief coroner Brigitte Windley formally identified Furse-Kee after hearing evidence provided by Senior Constable Robert Stokes.
Max Furse-Kee one of the six victims of the Mount Maunganui landslide.Supplied
Stokes told the court his body was found on Monday, and detailed the forensic dental examination which determined his identity.
Furse-Kee’s body will now be released to his family.
On Thursday, another victim of the fatal landslide was formally identified as Måns Loke Bernhardsson, from Sweden.
At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court this evening, coroner Louella Dunn formally identified the 20-year-old tourist.
The remaining victims of the landslide have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, and Sharon Maccanico, 15.
Only Furse-Kee and Bernhardsson have been formally identified.
Thousands donated to landslide victims’ families
Fundraising pages set up for some of the Mount Maunganui landslide victims’ families have raised thousands of dollars, with donors paying heartfelt tribute to those trapped by last week’s massive slip.
A Givealittle page set up by Maclennan’s sister had raised almost $13,000 within 13 hours for the Morrinsville teacher’s family.
Lisa Maclennan, 50, is one of six victims of a landslide at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.Supplied / Givealittle
“She lost her life trying to save everyone else,” the page said.
“We cannot put a value on the loss of a loved one but any donations will make a difference and help this whanau through this extremely difficult time.”
A separate page has also been set up “In Loving Memory” of Furse-Kee, with $35,435 donated to the teenager’s family in less than 15 hours.
On Monday evening, about 100 people gathered at Auckland Domain to remember Maccanico, another Pakuranga College student and landslide victim.
Recovery efforts halted again over slip safety concerns
In a statement, police said work was temporarily suspended just after 10.30am on Thursday.
Recovery efforts resumed at 2pm, police said.
Work resumes at Mount Maunganui landslide on 26 January.RNZ/Nick Monro
It comes a week after the slip occurred, burying six people.
Technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered and work suspended.
Detective Inspector Lew Warner said the safety of all staff working at the scene is front of mind.
Independent review ordered into landslide as iwi call for answers
Tauranga City Council has announced an independent review into the events leading up to Thursday’s landslide at the base of Mauao, as local iwi Ngāi Te Rangi say they are seeking a thorough investigation into the cause of the slip.
Drysdale and council chief executive Marty Grenfell confirmed the review last Friday, describing the landslide as an incident of “local, national and international importance”.
“The landslide and its impacts on those affected and their families clearly represents a serious and significant incident,” Drysdale said.
“It is important that we have a clear and accurate understanding of the facts and events leading up to the landslide, so that we can ensure that the future safety of the community is appropriately safeguarded.”
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Australian National University; The University of Western Australia; Victoria University
The United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran are once again on the brink of a major confrontation. This would have terrible ramifications for both countries, the region and the world.
All signs point in this direction, but the two sides also have an off-ramp: the possibility of reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and other disputed issues.
The Iranian regime has never been so besieged both internally and externally. It has just faced yet another widespread protest movement demanding the government’s ouster, while dealing with the threat of military action by the US, supported by its ally, Israel.
Even so, the regime remains resilient and defiant. It brutally crushed the recent protests at the cost of thousands of lives and mass arrests and has warned the US of an all-out war if it attacks.
At the same time, it has signalled a willingness to reach a deal with the US over its nuclear program to avoid such an outcome.
So, what happens next, and can war be avoided?
A regime in survival mode
The regime’s tenacity is embedded in its unique theocratic nature, in which societal subordination and confrontation with outside enemies are the modus operandi.
Since its inception 47 years ago, the regime has learned how to ensure its longevity. This requires having a strong and defendable state, armed with all the necessary repressive instruments of state power, along with an ideology that mixes the concept of Shia Islamic martyrdom with fierce Iranian nationalism.
Given this, the regime has operated within a jihadi (combative) and ijtihadi (pragmatist) framework for its survival.
It has prepared for both war and making deals. This is not the first time Iran’s clerical leaders have been put in a tight corner by their own people and outside adversaries. They have always found a way to work through challenges and threats to their existence.
Still, the current challenge is bigger than any they’ve faced before. Over the past month, US President Donald Trump has vowed to punish the regime for its repression of the Iranian people, and now for its refusal to reach a deal on its nuclear program.
Trump must know that regime change in Iran will not happen easily. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his fellow clerics are ready to fight to the very end. They know that if the Islamic system they created goes down, everyone in the regime is most likely to perish with it.
The regime has built sufficient fanatical forces (namely, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij paramilitary force) and advanced missiles and drones to defend itself. It also has the ability to block the Strait of Hormuz, though which 20% of the world’s oil and 25% of its liquefied natural gas flows every day.
The regime also has the backing of China, Russia and North Korea, which means any US assault could quickly escalate into a broader regional war.
Although Trump has not favoured regime change in the past, he now seems as if he’s not ruling it out. (His ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long had this aim.)
But even though Trump now has a “massive armada” of ships and fighter jets in the region, the Iranian regime cannot be toppled by air and sea alone. And a ground invasion is not on Trump’s agenda, given the United States’ bitter experiences with ground offensives in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The regime could only crumble if a sizeable part of its security forces defected to the opposition. So far, they have remained quite loyal and solidly behind the leadership – as the brutal crackdown to the recent protests shows.
A possible destabilising future
Even if the regime were to crumble from within by some chance, what would come next?
Iran is a large and complex country, with an ethnically mixed population. While Persians form a slim majority of the population, the country has significant minority groups, such as the Kurds, Azeris, Arabs and Balochis. They all have a history of movements for secession and autonomy.
With the exception of two short periods of experimenting with democracy in the early and mid-20th century, Iran has been governed by authoritarian rulers. In the event of a power vacuum, it remains prone to chaos and disintegration.
It is doubtful that Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled from 1941–79, will command sufficient public support and organisational strength to ensure a smooth transition to democracy. He has lived most of his life in exile in the US and has been closely identified with Israeli and American interests.
Netanyahu would be pleased to see a disintegrated Iran, as he has always wanted to prevent the formation of a united Muslim front against Israel. But the fall-out from a destabilised Iran would be problematic for the region.
These considerations are probably weighing on Trump’s mind, delaying his promise to the Iranian protesters that “help is on its way”.
Diplomacy is the better way forward. The time has come for the Iranian and American leadership to compromise and resurrect their July 2015 nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew in 2018.
This should be urgently followed by Iran’s clerical rulers opening their iron fist and allowing the Iranian people to determine their future and that of their country within a democratic framework.
Otherwise, the volatility that has long dominated this oil-rich country, where between 30–40% of the population lives in poverty, will eventually devour the regime.
Amin Saikal does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
On Wednesday, the federal government announced plans to reform how medications are dispensed and tracked, aiming to reduce unsafe use, stockpiling and “doctor shopping”.
This will include two stages. First, the government will require all online and telehealth prescribers to upload information about a patient’s prescribed medications to their My Health Record.
Second, the government plans to develop a National Medicines Record – an over-arching database to register and monitor all current prescriptions.
So, how would this work? While some detail is still lacking, here’s what we know.
Why is this needed?
An increasing number of Australians take multiple medications. Recent research analysing prescribing patterns in Australia estimates almost two million of us took five or more regular medicines in 2024.
While multiple medicines are often needed to manage multiple conditions, there are risks of adverse effects.
And when a clinician prescribes medication or a pharmacist dispenses it without a full understanding of the patient’s current medications, it can lead to harmful interactions between them.
This can make a patient sicker and often lands them in hospital. An estimated 1.5 million people in Australia experience some kind of harmful side effect from using medicine each year.
Those at particular risk are older adults taking numerous medications, as well as those transitioning between health-care settings (such as going into hospital or returning home).
Sometimes patients also stockpile medications, including through consulting multiple doctors, known as “doctor shopping”. For example, they might do this to obtain extra supplies of addictive pain medication.
How does it work right now?
Currently, there is no centralised, mandatory register that records all of the medicines a person is prescribed and dispensed.
Instead, prescribing information may be siloed in hospital and aged care systems, general practice records and those of online telehealth providers such as Instant Scripts, 13SICK and Hola Health.
This can prevent any single doctor or pharmacist from having clear, comprehensive information about a patient’s medications.
Some health-care practitioner and pharmacy bodies have criticised the online prescribing industry, in particular, for contributing to inappropriate prescribing and medication misuse.
For high-risk medications such as opioids, there is already a Real Time Prescription Monitoring system. Victoria has a similar system called SafeScript, but this doesn’t record the full range of prescription medications.
Announcing the reforms, Health Minister Mark Butler referred to an Australian woman who died from an overdose after stockpiling her medicine. He explained her parent’s advocacy prompted the government to address the lack of a comprehensive medicines record.
What will change?
First, the government will require online and telehealth prescribing platforms to add information to the My Health Record system about prescribed medications. This will include information about the clinical reasoning for prescribing.
My Health Record is a government-run platform providing a secure, online collection of a patient’s health information. Both patients and their treating health-care professionals can access it.
So any medication or related clinical information uploaded by a prescriber would be accessible via My Health Record, to the patient as well as to their health-care providers and pharmacists.
In theory, it is a step forward. The challenge is that the My Health Record system remains under-used. One in 10 Australians have no My Health Record (the system is opt-out).
For the millions of Australians who do have a My Health Record, usage is increasing. But many still have never accessed their own record.
It is also not clear whether, and how, a patient’s access to their own My Health Record would reduce medication harm (particularly if the patient is deliberately stockpiling medication).
Almost all GPs, pharmacies and public hospitals are registered for My Health Record and have used the system. But data shows pharmacies are mainly using it to upload information rather than looking at records others have uploaded.
Overall, ensuring that all medicines information is available on the My Health Record is a positive step.
But it does not mean that the information will be accessed (or understood) by others who are prescribing and dispensing medication to a patient.
Indeed, sadly, the warnings that were placed by hospital services on the My Health Record of the young woman who died from an overdose were not accessed by telehealth services nor pharmacies prescribing and supplying her with medication.
What’s ahead?
As a second step, the government says it will design and build a National Medicines Record. This would be an overarching platform linked to My Health Record and other digital health systems, to register all current prescriptions.
If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Megan Prictor is a member of the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law, the European Association for Health Law and the World Association of Medical Law.
Another victim of the fatal Mount Maunganui landslide has been formally identified as Måns Loke Bernhardsson, from Sweden.
Six people died in the Mauao slip last Thursday.
At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court this evening, coroner Louella Dunn formally identified the 20 year old tourist.
Detective Sergeant Brent Griffiths told the court the body was found on Saturday, and forensic dental examination and DNA had determined his identity.
On Wednesday, the first victim was formally identified as Max Furse-Kee. His identity was released on the same day he would have turned 16.
Rescue efforts at Mount Maunganui have resumed after being paused for a second time when technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered.
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Flooding in the Helena Bay – Ōakura area of Northland on 18 January 2026.Screengrab from video – supplied
The Whangārei District Council has announced an emergency recovery fund for residents affected by last week’s severe weather.
Mayor Ken Couper said flood-affected residents would be supported with small grants of $1000 or $2000.
“The community spirit in the area has been nothing short of inspiring. It’s important to us that you’re not left out of pocket,” Couper said in a written statement.
“It’s been a really tough time for many in these communities and the emergency recovery fund is a small but vital part of the response.”
Community and non-profit organisations, marae and small businesses in the Hikurangi-Coastal Ward that had suffered extreme hardship would also be eligible.
Couper said the fund was around $130,000 in total and was made up from contributions from NEMA and the council itself.
The government has also announced that it will make Civil Defence payments available for people affected by last week’s weather events, in specific areas.
The payments would be for people based in Rawhiti, Ngaiotonga, Bland Bay (Whangaruru North), Punaruku, Ōakura (Whangaruru South), Mokau, Helena Bay, Mimiwhangata, Whananaki, Waioweka Gorge, Hicks Bay, and Te Araroa.
The payments would vary depending on someone’s circumstances and what they were paying for.
For example, a single person needing support for food, clothing, or bedding could receive a maximum of $400 and a couple or sole parent with three or more children could get up to $1100.
The payments could be used to help pay for some types of accommodation and assist with lost income.
The government had also provided $1.2 million towards Mayoral Relief Funds and a further $1m to reimburse marae that provided shelter and support.
It had stood up a Temporary Accommodation Service, and sent motorhomes to remote and isolated communities.
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Getting immunised with two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine (after the age of 12 months) is the best form of protection against measles.Sherry Yates/123RF
There is a new measles case in Tauranga which is likely linked to overseas travel.
Heath NZ says the patient is believed to have contracted the disease overseas and was not thought to be infectious on their flight to New Zealand.
National Public Health Service clinical director Dr William Rainger said the person was working with health officials to identify anyone they may have been in contact with while infectious.
The person’s early symptoms started on 21 January, he said.
So far two locations of interest have been listed for Wednesday 21 January: The General Cafe in Mt Maunganui from 7.30am-3.30pm and Pak N Save Cameron Road, Tauranga from 4.15pm to 7.15pm.
Measles symptoms include:
an illness that begins with high fever (over 38C), cough, runny nose, and sore red eyes (conjunctivitis)
a rash, beginning on the face and gradually spreading down the body to the arms and legs. The rash lasts for up to one week.
Dr Rainger said it was a highly infectious disease which could affect all age groups.
“If you have symptoms of measles, please phone ahead before visiting your doctor or healthcare provider so they can take precautions to prevent measles spreading,” he said in a statement.
“Getting immunised with two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine (after the age of 12 months) is the best form of protection against measles. ”
The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is very effective in preventing measles – and it is free in New Zealand for all children under 18, regardless of immigration status, and for adults 18 years old and over who are eligible for publicly funded healthcare, that includes all citizens and permanent residents.
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The bus driver was taken to hospital in a moderate condition.123RF
A 14-year-old has been arrested after a bus driver was assaulted in West Auckland.
Police were called to reports a person had been injured on a bus on Colwill Road in the suburb of Massey at about 7pm.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting said upon arrival, the alleged offender had fled on foot.
The bus driver was taken to hospital in a moderate condition.
“This was an understandably frightening ordeal for the victim and we are continuing to support them,” Detective Bunting said.
He said on Thursday morning, police arrested a 14-year-old in relation to the alleged attack.
The teenager has since appeared in Waitākere Youth Court charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault and possession of an offensive weapon.
“People have a right to be safe going about their business, without having to be subjected to any type of violence,” Bunting said.
“Any violent behaviour will not be accepted and those engaging in it will be held to account.”
The teenager will reappear in Waitākere Youth Court on 17 February.
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About 200 pensioners have had the amount they receive in NZ Super affected this week because of a problem with the Ministry of Social Development’s IT system.
One man who contacted RNZ said he had been receiving NZ Super for more than 10 years, as well as a small proportion from Canada because he had worked there briefly.
But his NZ Super payment did not arrive on Monday.
When he called to ask what had happened, he was told there was a system error and everyone receiving Canadian or Netherlands pensions had their NZ Super suspended.
Paula Ratahi-O’Neill, the ministry’s general manger of centralised services, said it was working urgently to fix a fault that affected people receiving overseas pensions.
“The fault was in the IT system that updates overseas pension rates. It has caused a small group of people to have their NZ Super payments incorrectly assessed.
“This has led to some payments being suspended, and in other cases incorrect payments being made.
“We estimate that around 200 clients receiving overseas pensions have been affected. We will continue to monitor numbers.
“We are working with urgency to fix these payments and will be paying amounts owing to people by Friday. We apologise to those impacted by this fault.”
She said the ministry’s technical team was working “at speed” to stop other payments being affected and a data fix should be released by Monday.
Some overseas pensions that are deemed to be similar to New Zealand’s system offset NZ Super.
For every dollar people get from an overseas pension, their New Zealand payment is reduced by one dollar.
According to the government’s website, to count as a pension that offsets NZ Super, the pension needs to be part of a programme providing pensions or benefits, cover something that NZ pensions and benefits cover, such as old age or disability, and be administered by or on behalf of a country’s government.
Voluntary savings schemes generally were not included.
Reports that Victoria Police are issuing anti-association orders to “youth gang members” has sparked fresh debate about how to best deal with youth gang violence in Australia.
These orders have previously been used to reduce the presence of outlaw motorcycle “bikies” and are an attempt to prevent prospective harm.
While such measures may temporarily address public calls for tougher crime control, there have been significant criticisms of association laws in Australia and internationally.
Instead, we need to understand why young people gravitate to gangs, and consider evidence-based early-intervention solutions.
What do the stats suggest?
The number of young offenders in Australia is decreasing.
However, in Victoria, the number of offences committed by youth (aged 10–17 years) has risen in recent months.
Media and political discourses have consistently portrayed young people, and particularly migrant young people, as being responsible for anti-social, delinquent and criminal behaviour.
This fuels public perceptions that young people are out of control, threatening, violent and dangerous. Data from Victoria Police indicate young people account for just 13% of all offenders, yet media coverage of crime seems to focus mainly on youths.
Any durable, street-oriented youth group whose involvement in illegal activity is part of its group identity.
Gangs are often a group of delinquent friends, perhaps drawn together by their shared attitudes and propensity for delinquency.
In Australia, gangs rarely go out to recruit members as is sometimes seen in the United States or Central America. This is because Australia has, for the most part, escaped the transnational street gang presence that drives youth recruiting in other countries.
The risk factors of gang involvement
After the murders of two boys, aged 15 and 12, in Melbourne’s outer west last September, Victoria Police Detective Inspector Graham Banks said:
We need to get to the root cause of why these people are joining gangs and to make it a situation where they don’t want to be involved in that sort of behaviour.
There is no single reason for youth offending. Instead, multiple areas of a young person’s life come together to influence their behaviour: their own beliefs and attitudes, peer group, family, school and community.
Although the relative importance of each category changes across childhood and adolescence, a young person’s risk of violence, offending, or gang membership increases as the number of risk factors rises.
Individual risk factors include low self-control, low empathy, antisocial beliefs and attitudes, substance use, or having been victimised themselves.
Despite media portrayals to the contrary, ethnicity or migration background has not been shown to be a risk factor for violence, offending, or gang membership.
Peers are one of the strongest influences on gang involvement, with young people more likely to offend if their peers are delinquent.
In the absence of a legitimate pathway to social capital, youth gangs can provide a sense of belonging and social identity for disenfranchised young people.
Family risk factors include lack of parental supervision and abusive or neglectful family environments.
Risk factors at school include truancy, low grades, feeling unsafe at school and lack of attachment to school.
Finally, at the community level, we see the impact of risk factors such as socioeconomic disadvantage, low social cohesion and high levels of crime in the neighbourhood.
It is important to remember that although these interconnecting risk factors can increase the risk of a young person offending, they do not automatically cause offending.
If a young person has good conflict resolution skills, positive friendships, strong family relationships and opportunities for education and employment, it is likely their risk of offending is lower.
Yet evidence shows harsher bail laws do not have the desired deterrent effect. They also consistently and disproportionately affect those of a lower socio-economic status.
Queensland’s “adult crime, adult time” policy – which lists 33 offences for which children can receive the same penalty as an adult – has also faced scrutiny for perpetuating harm.
Financially, tough bail and sentencing laws cause unintended consequences that actually cost governments more by failing to break cycles of incarceration.
Violence and gang membership can emerge from a complex interplay of risks across childhood and adolescence. These are unlikely to be shifted by legislation.
Instead, best practice suggests a need to work with young people on early intervention and ideally prevention.
Young people at risk need mentoring, active school engagement and increased employment opportunities. Their families and communities need support.
Sustainable reductions in youth violence and gang involvement will only be achieved by adequately funding and expanding evidence-based early intervention and prevention programs that address the broader social and developmental needs of young people.
Kathryn Benier has received funding from Department of Health and Human Services (Victoria), Department of Justice and Regulation (Victoria), Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), Attorney-General’s Department (Australia), Campbell Collaboration, Department of Homeland Security (USA).
Angela Higginson has received funding from: Australian Research Council; Australian Institute of Criminology; Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS); 3ie; Campbell Collaboration (Dept Homeland Security USA & Public Safety Canada); Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime UK; College of Policing UK; Dept of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; Dept of Social Services; Dept of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games; Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.
People watch on as work at the slip site is halted.RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Rescue efforts at Mount Maunganui following a deadly slip have resumed after being paused for a second time.
Work resumed at 2pm, several hours after it was suspended, following confirmation that the area was safe to re-enter.
“Following consultation with a number of experts on the ground, the recovery teams have been given the green light to continue with the recovery,” Detective Inspector Lew Warner said.
“While the suspension of work is frustrating for everybody involved, the correct measures must be taken to ensure the safety of everybody at the scene.”
Detective Inspector Warner reiterated the need to keep the recovery team safe.
“These people have been working tirelessly in a range of testing conditions across the last week, to bring families their loved ones back.”
Police said work was temporarily suspended just after 10.30am on Thursday after technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered.
Detective Inspector Lew Warner said earlier on Thursday that the safety of all staff working at the scene is front of mind.
“The systems installed are designed to trigger any potential land movements, and excess water within the scene,” Warner said.
“Geotechnical experts will now conduct a thorough examination of the area before clearance to return to work is given.
“All staff working at the scene have been withdrawn, pending further assessments.”
Staff working at the scene have been stopped.RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Warner said police would give an update when it was able to.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins got to the disaster site just as work was being halted.
Struggling for words at one point, he described a moving experience meeting workers and victims’ families.
“It’s incredibly hard for them and to the families who have been affected, some of whom I had the opportunity to speak to briefly.
“There just aren’t really any words that you can share that really express the sense of loss that is here and the commitment of the people who are working here now to do everything that they can to support those families and to bring them some comfort.”
Hipkins said everyone was doing everything they could to support those affected and working at the site, but also to protect their safety.
“It’s a very, very difficult time for the families,” Hipkins said.
“I imagine at this point, seven days on, they just need some space and so that’s what we’ve tried to do here.
“I think being here is important to, I guess, express the country’s support, but also recognising that they deserve their space.”
Over the weekend, work was halted for about 24 hours due to a potential slip occurring.
At the time, police said the victim’s families were understandably frustrated by the delay in the recovery work but they understood why it needed to happen.
Slip recovery a ‘dangerous environment’, expert says
Dr Chris Massey, an engineering geologist with Earth Sciences, told Midday Report, one of the biggest issues with digging into an area following a landslide was the potential for the land to be destabilised further.
Massey said while he was not involved with the recovery efforts at Mt Maunganui, generally with landslides there was a possibility that digging into the debris could cause a secondary slip that could kill or hurt people nearby.
“A landslide occurs when soil or rock moves from one location to another… so the key really is managing the risk to people in that lower area who are trying to excavate the debris.
“It’s a really dangerous environment.”
Monitoring a landslide was difficult, Massey said, due to their relatively small size when compared to something like a volcano.
“You need experts to understand where they are. We use different techniques – starting from space, we can monitor the movement of the ground using radar technology, we can then get closer to the ground by monitoring using UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), and aerial photography.”
On the ground sensors could be installed on the surface of the area, Massey said, which monitored movement or even instal sensors in the landslide to monitor when there was moving in the ground.
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Tairāwhiti Civil Defence says more than 25 military troops are expected to be on the ground in flood-damaged East Coast communities – Te Araroa and Wharekahika / Hicks Bay.
Several slips on State Highway 35 during last week’s storm has separated the townships from one another, and access into each remains restricted.
Civil Defence said it was working alongside Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou and the defence force to deliver emergency supplies to isolated communities on the coast, such as food, medicine, personal protective equipment, and cleaning gear.
It said the military were also providing vital information on where support is needed most.
Gisborne District Council’s Diana Dobson said medical drops were ongoing and on Thursday a doctor, nurse practitioner, and medical officer of health landed in Wharekahika / Hicks Bay – where an emergency shelter and water purification system had been set up at Hinemaurea Marae.
Facebook / Tairāwhiti Civil Defence
Speaking to RNZ from a busy Hinemaurea Marae, Ani Pahuru-Huriwai – of the Wharekahika/Potaka/Waikura flood relief team – said the community was doing well, all things considered.
“[We’re] thankful for the people that are worrying about us, we are okay, we’re very grateful for the support that we’ve been receiving from around the country.
“It has been devastating for us – heartbreaking seeing our paradise like this – but we will get through. We’re working together very well, and probably the silver-lining in all this is [that] everyone has come together.”
Pahuru-Huriwai said the focus now was on getting the community through the days ahead.
Dobson said a further 20 buildings were to undergo safety assessments in the coming days, with 14 properties red stickered and 17 given yellow stickers across Te Araroa, Onepoto and Hicks Bay.
She said internet access had been restored to all areas.
The New Zealand Defence Force has been approached for comment.
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Nelson mayor Nick Smith, regional development Minister Shane Jones and former Nelson Marina CEO and current city councillor Nigel Skeggs.RNZ/Samantha Gee
Nelson Marina has received a $13 million loan from the government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund for a new service centre and a vessel hoist for marine maintenance.
The project is part of the marina’s wider redevelopment, which is estimated to take 15 years and cost $120m.
In announcing the funding in Nelson on Thursday, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said the project would create well over 100 jobs.
“It is anticipated this part of the project will create up to 110 jobs during construction and up to 180 ongoing roles once completed, while promoting local innovation within the marine sector,” he said.
Nelson City Council, which owns the marina, will also contribute $12.89m in co-funding for the expansion.
A maximum of $10.5m will go towards the marine service centre, which includes a mix of workshops for boat building and maintenance, office space and retail shopfronts for marine-related businesses, with construction due to begin in 2027.
A further $2.4m will be used to upgrade the existing boat yard and hardstand to double its current footprint, with capacity increasing from 14 to 54 bays. It also includes the purchase of a new 110-tonne straddle lift, which has already arrived from Italy and will replace the old 50-tonne machine once a new runway is built.
Jones said Nelson’s sea-based “blue economy” added more than $350m a year in GDP to the region and employed more than 3700 people. It serves as a base for a number of industries, including fishing and aquaculture and is a popular tourism destination. Nelson is also an important centre of marine research and marine engineering.
“This investment aligns with the RIF’s priority of supporting growth through enabling infrastructure that ensures regions are well-connected and productive,” he said.
The new 110-tonne travel lift at the Nelson Marina which was built in Italy.RNZ/Samantha Gee
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the announcement followed an incredibly tough year for the region with many job losses, and it had taken several years’ work to secure the funding.
“Council has worked hand in hand with the marina to secure this government investment of almost $13 million, which will enable us to accelerate our ambitious development plans for Nelson’s Marina. It’s a great way to start 2026 and a real boost for the city’s economic recovery,” he said.
“We want Nelson to become New Zealand’s lead marine centre by growing our blue economy – the go-to place for recreational and commercial boat building and maintenance, fishing and aquaculture and for marine science and associated professional services.”
The proposed Marina Service Centre at the Nelson Marina.Supplied/Nelson City Council
Nelson Marina Management chair Rick Herd said the investment would deliver long-term economic, social and maritime benefits.
“By improving infrastructure at the marina, we’re helping to future-proof Nelson’s waterfront and ensuring it continues to deliver value for locals, visitors, and marine operators alike,” he said.
Minister for the South Island, James Meager, said the marina upgrade was a priority for the region.
“After a tough 2025 for Nelson-Tasman, I know the creation of 110 jobs during the marina’s expansion phase and the 180 ongoing roles once completed will be welcomed by the community,” he said.
Construction is expected to start in May and be completed in mid-2028.
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Detection dog handler Jonah Kitto-Verhoef and his possum detection dog Scout are often the first deployed into an area with low possum density to help them decide where to rule out and where they should hone their efforts.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
Conservationists expect to officially declare the Otago Peninsula possum-free soon and put more pest species in their sights.
There have been years of mahi from residents, community groups and the Predator Free Dunedin collaboration to remove the pest from about 9000 hectares on the peninsula.
A steep patchwork of backyards, gullies and bush is the last line of defence to stop them from reinvading.
More than 25,000 possums have been removed from the area over the years.
The Halo Project, a delivery partner of Predator Free Dunedin, is leading the efforts on the ground, using AI cameras, trail cameras, and possum scat detection dog, Scout, to track down any remaining survivors.
The Halo Project, a delivery partner of Predator Free Dunedin, checks the elimination efforts in the Silver Peaks near Dunedin.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
Its predator-free project manager Jonah Kitto-Verhoef said the community buy-in had been impressive and important, helping to report different sightings and granting permissions to clear predators from their properties.
“Possums don’t really care about who owns the habitat. Obviously, it will straddle several adjoining properties,” he said.
Kitto-Verhoef was also the handler for possum scat detection dog, Scout.
Detection dog Scout sniffs for scat to find possums.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
Scout was a crucial part of their response as he helped them to work out where they needed to invest their efforts and where they could move on, he said.
“Half the challenge is having the data confidence to make operational decisions with the speed that we need to do so the scat dog compared to every other technique, maybe bar thermal drone, is the real game changer for us to be able to move rapidly.”
Predator Free Dunedin project lead Rhys Millar said the wider project area stretched across more than 40,000 hectares including Orokunui Ecosanctuary and in the city.
Rhys Millar.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
“We’re now at a point where we feel confident that we can eliminate possums and we’re beginning to explore multi-species elimination operations, which will encapsulate rats, the suite of mustelids as well as possums,” Millar said.
“We’re going to likely include feral cats and also rabbits in the mix. Not that rabbits are a target species for Predator Free 2050, we believe by removing rabbits it will make the control of mustelids a lot easier.”
That included looking at which toxins, traps and tools were appropriate for the different communities and areas they covered.
Awareness campaigns and community conversations about the impact of cats and feral cats on native wildlife were already underway, he said.
Kitto-Verhoef said they were already noticing more bird life and more diversity of plants that would usually be snacked on by possums.
Thermal drones are used to help find remaining possums where densities are low.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
“We’ve got people in residential areas who are winning flower competitions with their magnolias for the first time because they’ve been browsed so heavily by possums.
“People enjoy crops of broad beans and their roses so I guess our view of success is often in a conservation lens but for some people success is being able to grow a healthy rose bush.”
It was exciting to see less pressure on the ecosanctuary’s fence and vulnerable species spilling out from Orokonui, and now that plan was to improve survival rates of native species, he said.
While he was excited to celebrate success on the peninsula, Kitto-Verhoef said he was excited for the next challenge.
Possums caught on infrared cameras.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
Millar said they were only funded until the middle of 2027.
“Current funding uncertainties do make forward planning beyond the next two years quite difficult so it’s really important for us to prove that we can deliver.”
They might reach a time where they had to simply maintain their wins and tread water rather than expand further as it was vital not to lose the hard-won gains, Millar said.
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ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on January 29, 2026.
What the ‘mother of all deals’ between India and the EU means for global trade Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Draper, Professor, and Executive Director: Institute for International Trade, and Director of the Jean Monnet Centre of Trade and Environment, Adelaide University The “mother of all deals”: that’s how European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the new free trade agreement between the European Union
What the ‘mother of all deals’ between India and the EU means for global trade Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Draper, Professor, and Executive Director: Institute for International Trade, and Director of the Jean Monnet Centre of Trade and Environment, Adelaide University The “mother of all deals”: that’s how European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the new free trade agreement between the European Union
Eyes of Fire: Gripping tale of adventure, tragedy and testament to environmental activism Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – BookHero Review Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, by David Robie, isn’t only a gripping tale of adventure and tragedy but also a testament to the enduring spirit of environmental activism. It serves as an important reminder of the power
What is extremism, and how do we decide? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keiran Hardy, Associate Professor, Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University As controversy over Australia’s new hate laws continues, last weekend’s so-called March for Australia rallies were the latest in a string of events that have raised the temperature of public debate. It’s hard to generalise about the motivations
United Israel Appeal – Australian charity channels tax free donations direct to IDF soldiers SPECIAL REPORT: By Stephanie Tran Since 2013, more than $400 million in tax-deductible donations have flowed through an Australian charity, including direct to IDF soldiers. United Israel Appeal (UIA) Australia has remitted $376m to Israel via its global partner Keren Hayesod, according to Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) financial disclosures. In 2024 alone, UIA
Submarine mountains and long-distance waves stir the deepest parts of the ocean Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Kolbusz, Research Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration When most of us look out at the ocean, we see a mostly flat blue surface stretching to the horizon. It’s easy
Will killing dingoes on K’gari make visitors safer? We think it’s unlikely Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bradley P. Smith, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Line Knipst/Pexels, CC BY After the tragic death of Canadian backpacker Piper James on K’gari (Fraser Island) on January 19, a coroner found the 19–year–old had been bitten by dingoes while she was still alive, but the most
Monumental ambitions: the history behind Trump’s triumphal arch Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Garritt C. Van Dyk, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Waikato Getty Images Donald Trump took time out this week from dramatic events at home and abroad to reveal three new design concepts for his proposed “Independence Arch” in Washington DC. All three renderings resemble the famous
One Nation surges into second place in two polls, but Labor remains well ahead after preferences Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Five federal polls have been released in the last week, with three of them having some fieldwork after the Coalition split on January 22. One Nation is
In his last book, Julian Barnes circles big ideas and reflects on his shortcomings Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Flanery, Chair in Creative Writing, Adelaide University Julian Barnes, author of 14 previous novels, ten volumes of nonfiction, and three collections of short stories under his own name, plus four crime novels under the pseudonym Dan Kavanagh, has announced that his new novel, Departure(s), will be
How much would you pay for school to provide your child with lunch every day? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brittany Johnson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University Peter Cade/Getty Images Most Australian children bring their lunch to school through a “lunchbox system”. But there is a growing push for schools to provide students with lunch. Despite decades of efforts to promote better nutrition, it
Your sense of self is deeply tied to your memory – here’s how Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shane Rogers, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Edith Cowan University You might say you have a “bad memory” because you don’t remember what cake you had at your last birthday party or the plot of a movie you watched last month. On the other hand, you might precisely
Why is my migraine worse in summer? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lakshini Gunasekera, PhD Candidate in Neurology, Monash University K8/Unsplash For people with migraine, summer can be a double-edged sword. You may be able to relax more, sleep in, enjoy the sunshine, and spend time with family and friends. But other factors – such as glare, heat, and
Fossil fuels are doomed – and Trump can’t save them Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney The past three years have been the world’s hottest on record. In 2025, Earth was 1.44°C warmer than the long-term average, perilously close to breaching the Paris Agreement goal of 1.5°C. This warming is fuelling
How much would you pay for school to provide your child with lunch everyday? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brittany Johnson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University Peter Cade/Getty Images Most Australian children bring their lunch to school through a “lunchbox system”. But there is a growing push for schools to provide students with lunch. Despite decades of efforts to promote better nutrition, it
Antihero Marty Supreme is sociopathic in his pursuit of glory. Why do we want him to win? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Oscar Bloomfield, PhD Candidate in Film Studies, Deakin University A24 Marty Supreme is a frenetic tale inspired by Marty Reisman, the charismatic American table tennis champion of the 1950s. Charged by Timothée Chalamet’s electric lead performance – alongside a stellar supporting cast (including Gwyneth Paltrow), and director
Pacific women scholars call for ‘radical shift’ in global health systems By Khalia Strong of PMN News A new paper by women scholars warns colonial power structures are still shaping health systems across the Pacific region. They are calling for a radical shift in global health leadership and decision-making. The call comes from a new paper published this month in The Lancet Regional Health – Western
PSNA seeks urgent police talks after ‘rock through window’ attack on Palestine supporters Asia Pacific Report The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) has asked for an urgent meeting with Police Commissioner Richard Chambers and is calling for “cohesive action” over escalating attacks by Israel supporters against Palestinians and human rights activists. The network said in a statement a rock had been hurled through the window of New Plymouth
View from The Hill: Nationals rebel stirs the pot but Littleproud is dug in Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A little-known Nationals MP, Queenslander Colin Boyce, who declared on Wednesday he will move for a spill of the party’s leadership, has tossed a grenade but David Littleproud appears firmly dug in. Littleproud’s breaking of the Coalition has had a
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jonno Duniam on the ‘frenzy’ over hate speech laws and the Coalition split Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Last week, the Coalition fell apart for the second time since the last federal election – which was just eight months ago. Both the Liberals and Nationals are in crisis. Sussan Ley’s leadership of the Opposition now appears to be
The PM and ministers are running late. The press conference will begin shortly in the media player above
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is about to speak to media at the Tai Rāwhiti Emergency Coordination Centre after visiting nearby weather-hit areas by helicopter.
He’s joined by Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Chris Penk.
Bishop earlier issued a statement, updating the status of roads around the country.
An estimated 1000 truckloads of debris still need to be cleared from State Highway Two through the Waioweka Gorge after the recent wild weather.
The Bay of Plenty road remains closed due to about 40 slips along the route.
Bishop said crews were working seven days a week, with the goal of reopening at least one lane as soon as it was safe.
State Highway 35 on the East Coast had also been hit hard, with one section between Te Araroa and Pōtaka likely to be out of action for some time.
Meanwhile, State Highway 25 between Whangamatā and Whiritoa was not expected to reopen until next month.
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Draper, Professor, and Executive Director: Institute for International Trade, and Director of the Jean Monnet Centre of Trade and Environment, Adelaide University
The “mother of all deals”: that’s how European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the new free trade agreement between the European Union and India, announced on Tuesday after about two decades of negotiations.
The deal will affect a combined population of 2 billion people across economies representing about a quarter of global GDP.
Speaking in New Delhi, von der Leyen characterised the agreement as a “tale of two giants” who “choose partnership, in a true win-win fashion”.
So, what have both sides agreed to – and why does it matter so much for global trade?
What has been agreed
Under this agreement, tariffs on 96.6% of EU goods exported to India will be eliminated or reduced. This will reportedly mean savings of approximately €4 billion (about A$6.8 billion) annually in customs duties on European products.
The automotive sector is the big winner. European carmakers – including Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Renault – will see tariffs on their vehicles gradually reduced from the current punitive rate of 110% to as little as 10%.
The reduced tariffs will apply to an annual quota of 250,000 vehicles, which is six times larger than the quota the UK received in its deal with India.
To protect India’s domestic manufacturers, European cars priced below €15,000 (A$25,500) will face higher tariffs, while electric vehicles get a five-year grace period.
India will almost entirely eliminate tariffs on machinery (which previously faced rates up to 44%), chemicals (22%) and pharmaceuticals (11%).
Wine is particularly notable – tariffs are being slashed from 150% to between 20–30% for medium and premium varieties. Spirits face cuts from 150% to 40%.
In return, the EU is also opening up its market. It will reduce tariffs on 99.5% of goods imported from India. EU tariffs on Indian marine products (such as shrimp), leather goods, textiles, handicrafts, gems and jewellery, plastics and toys will be eliminated.
These are labour-intensive sectors where India has genuine competitive advantage. Indian exporters in marine products, textiles and gems have faced tough conditions in recent years, partly due to US tariff pressures. That makes this EU access particularly valuable.
What’s been left out
This deal, while ambitious by India standards, has limits. It explicitly excludes deeper policy harmonisation on several fronts. Perhaps most significantly, the deal doesn’t include comprehensive provisions on labour rights, environmental standards or climate commitments.
While there are references to carbon border adjustment mechanisms (by which the EU imposes its domestic carbon price on imports into their common market), these likely fall short of enforceable environmental standards increasingly common in EU deals.
And the deal keeps protections for sensitive sectors in Europe: the EU maintains tariffs on beef, chicken, dairy, rice and sugar. Consumers in Delhi might enjoy cheaper European cars, while Europe’s farmers are protected from competition.
Second, the Donald Trump factor. Both the EU and India currently face significant US tariffs: India faces a 50% tariff on goods, while the EU faces headline tariffs of 15% (and recently avoided more in Trump’s threats over Greenland). This deal provides an alternative market for both sides.
And third, there’s what economists call “trade diversion” – notably, when Chinese products are diverted to other markets after the US closes its doors to them.
Both the EU and India want to avoid becoming dumping grounds for products that would normally go to the American market.
A dealmaking spree
The EU has been on something of a dealmaking spree recently. Earlier this month, it signed an agreement with Mercosur, a South American trade bloc.
That deal, however, has hit complications. On January 21, the European Parliament voted to refer it to the EU Court of Justice for legal review, which could delay ratification.
This creates a cautionary tale for the India deal. The legal uncertainty around Mercosur shows how well-intentioned trade deals can face obstacles.
The EU also finalised negotiations with Indonesia in September; EU–Indonesia trade was valued at €27 billion in 2024 (about A$46 billion).
For India, this deal with the EU is considerably bigger than recent agreements with New Zealand, Oman and the UK. It positions India as a diversified trading nation pursuing multiple partnerships.
However, the EU–India trade deal should be understood not as a purely commercial breakthrough, but also as a strategic signal — aimed primarily at the US.
In effect, it communicates that even close allies will actively seek alternative economic partners when faced with the threat of economic coercion or politicised trade pressure.
This interpretation is reinforced by both the deal’s timing and how it was announced. The announcement came even though key details still need to be negotiated and there remains some distance to go before final ratification.
That suggests the immediate objective was to deliver a message: the EU has options, and it will use them.
Australia has eliminated tariffs on all Indian exports, while India has removed duties on 90% of Australian goods by value, rising from an original commitment of 85%.
This EU-India deal should provide impetus for Australia and India to finalise their more comprehensive Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, under negotiation since 2023.
The 11th round of negotiations took place in August, covering goods, services, digital trade, rules of origin, and – importantly – labour and environmental standards.
The EU deal suggests India is willing to engage seriously on tariff liberalisation. However, it remains to be seen whether that appetite will transfer to the newer issues increasingly central to global trade, notably those Australia is now trying to secure with Indian negotiators.
Chasing an Australia-EU deal
Australia should take heart from the EU’s success in building alternative trading relationships.
This should encourage negotiators still pursuing an EU–Australia free trade agreement, negotiations for which were renewed last June after collapsing in 2023.
These deals signal something important about the global trading system: countries are adapting to American protectionism not by becoming protectionist themselves, but by deepening partnerships with each other.
The world’s democracies are saying they want to trade, invest, and cooperate on rules-based terms.
Nathan Howard Gray receives funding from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Mandar Oak and Peter Draper do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Transport Agency has now confirmed the two people were pest control contractors and Worksafe has been notified. A witness had earlier told RNZ he understood the helicopter was involved in goat culling in the area.
The Transport Agency is providing support to those affected by the crash.
Kāpiti-Mana Area Commander Inspector Renée Perkins said earlier on Thursday that a significant recovery operation took place to recover both victims from the crash site.
“Police are working to formally confirm the identity of those who were recovered, but are unable to do so at this stage of the investigation,” Inspector Perkins said.
“Our thoughts remain with their families and friends at this time.”
The area where a helicopter crashed on Wednesday.RNZ/Samuel Rillstone
A witness, who was first to reach the crash, said he was checking a body for vital signs as the Westpac rescue chopper arrived.
He said he could not find any sign of life before he made the call to get clear of the aircraft.
The man said the Westpac crew soon spotted another body in thick scrub, on steep terrain some distance from the wreckage.
Cordons remain in place around the Battle Hill campground while police examine the scene.
Civil Aviation Authority investigators have completed their preliminary scene examination.
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Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, by David Robie, isn’t only a gripping tale of adventure and tragedy but also a testament to the enduring spirit of environmental activism. It serves as an important reminder of the power of collective action and the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.’
This book is a compelling narrative that delves into a poignant moment in history and its lasting repercussions. Set against the backdrop of Pacific activism, the book meticulously chronicles the ill-fated journey of the Greenpeace vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, in a vividly detailed account that captures the tension and ideals of environmental advocacy.
The story unfolds as the Rainbow Warrior embarks on a critical mission to protest nuclear testing in the Pacific. The ship’s crew, a resolute group of environmental activists, intends to disrupt nuclear tests that threaten to devastate the delicate ecology of the region. Traversing the vast and often perilous waters of the Pacific, the campaigners demonstrate unwavering commitment to their cause.
Traversing the vast and often perilous waters of the Pacific, the campaigners demonstrate unwavering commitment to their cause.
However, their journey turns tragic on the night of 10 July 1985, when French secret agents carry out a covert sabotage operation in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand, bombing the ship in a stunning act of violence that reverberates globally.
David Robie, a veteran journalist and witness to the events, offers an insightful account filled with his personal experiences and observations. Through his lens, readers gain a comprehensive understanding of the geopolitical dynamics at play and the fierce dedication of those aboard the vessel.
40 years on: The Rainbow Warrior, the bombing and French colonial culture in Pacific – David Robie talks to the Fabian Society
Dr Robie incorporates a deeply human perspective, portraying the hope, courage, and grief that accompany such a devastating loss.
The tragedy claimed the life of Fernando Pereira, a courageous Portuguese-born photographer who tragically perished in the attack, igniting international outrage and drawing widespread attention to both the cause of environmental protection and the political tensions underlying the act of sabotage.
Dr Robie’s narrative goes beyond the immediate incident, reflecting on the far-reaching consequences for Greenpeace and the environmental movement at large.
Following the attack, the remnants of the Rainbow Warrior were repurposed into a living reef in a New Zealand bay in 1987, a symbol of resilience and renewal. Subsequently, Rainbow Warrior II was commissioned, and later still, Rainbow Warrior III, carrying on the legacy of their predecessor in the fight for environmental justice.
The prologue in the 2025th edition is by former Prime Minister Helen Clark and the foreword by former Greenpeace International co-executive director Bunny McDiarmid. This edition has major new sections on climate crisis and updates.
Original 1985 Rongelap mission Rainbow Warrior crew members Bunny McDiarmid and Henk Haazen return to the Marshall Islands in March 2025.
Takapuna CBD – shopping and retail genericRNZ/Nick Monro
Business confidence retreats 10 points from a 30-year high but still seen as strong
Businesses own expectations drop 9 points, but still historically high at 52 percent
Wage pressures start to lift modestly with inflation expectations the highest in 15 months.
More firms expect to raise prices over the next in two years
January’s business confidence is down 10 points from December’s 30-year high but is still considered to be extremely strong.
ANZ Bank’s business outlook’s headline confidence indicates a net 64 percent expected better economic conditions.
While businesses’ own expectations fell by 9 points to 52 percent, that reading was also historically high.
“The economy has clearly turned higher,” ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner said.
“Reported past employment is also rising and is back in the black for all sectors. That hasn’t been the case since late 2022,” she said.
She said reported past activity, which was the best indicator of GDP, rose 3 points to 26 — the second highest reading since August 2021.
“The less-good news is re-emerging signs of inflation pressure.”
Inflation indicators rose to the highest reading in nearly three years (March 2023) with prices expected to rise by 2.1 percent, with wage pressures also expected to increase.
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Hospitals in Auckland and Northland were impacted by the outage. (File photo)123rf.com
A massive IT outage at hospitals in Auckland and Northland is being blamed on cuts to Health NZ’s digital team, by a union representing public service workers.
The Public Service Association (PSA), said its members were forced to use pen and paper during a computer systems outage lasting more than twelve hours from Wednesday night to Thursday morning.
It said the outage had prevented clinicians from accessing patient information, and blocked communications.
“The government has to take the blame for this – these failures are a direct result of its short-sighted decision to underfund and cut roles at Health NZ’s digital services team,” PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said.
“The government oversaw the loss of the very experts who maintain and upgrade these critical systems, and now we’re seeing the predictable consequences – hospitals forced onto whiteboards and paper forms while trying to deliver modern healthcare.”
Fitzsimons called for the government to immediately review funding for digital health services and “admit its mistakes in cutting digital services expertise.”
RNZ approached Health NZ and the Ministry of Health for comment.
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Tongans have been barred from short-term visits to the US under new restrictions. (AP: Rebecca Blackwell)AP / Rebecca Blackwell
Tongan citizen Lionel Funaki fears a United States policy of “collective punishment” has ended his dream of studying in Hawaii.
He is one of many in the Pacific Island nation grappling with the Trump administration’s new travel restrictions affecting Tongan nationals.
Under new immigration restrictions that came into effect on 1 January, the US has suspended issuing visas to Tongans for short-term visits, tourism and business purposes.
Lionel Funaki studied at a university in the US state of Hawaii.Supplied / Lionel Funaki
Only two weeks after the new rules came into effect, the US State Department, in a separate measure, also said it would suspend processing immigrant visas for people from 75 countries including Fiji.
Funaki, who is based in Tonga and used to study in Hawaii at Brigham Young University, said he was saddened by the new measures imposed on Tongan nationals.
“I was looking forward to continuing my educational journey, but unfortunately, that now looms in limbo,” he said.
“I understand that in the name of national security and the interests of the United States, certain measures have to be made, but collective punishment seems to be a bit extreme.”
Tonga was named alongside 20 other countries in a round of full and partial travel restrictions imposed in December by the Trump administration, as it continued its sweeping immigration crackdown.
The White House said it included Tonga on the list due to the high number of its nationals – about 14 percent – who overstayed their visas.
It also said Tonga had unreliable civil documents and criminal records, lacked birth registration systems, and that its government had refused to share data and repatriate deportees.
“I would tell everyone that America is a land of hospitality, we love to have visitors – but they have to come here legally,” US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a November press conference.
“When they’re done visiting, then they need to go home.”
Donald Trump’s broad immigration crackdown has reached across the United States. (Reuters: Evelyn Hockstein)Reuters / Evelyn Hockstein
In a December statement, US President Donald Trump said countries listed for the new travel restrictions had failed to address concerns raised by his administration about their screening, vetting, and the information they provided about their citizens.
“Such countries warrant continued or new travel restrictions,” he said.
Restrictions stir frustrations in Tonga
The US travel restrictions have caused frustrations in Tonga, which has a large diaspora of citizens living in states such as Utah, Hawaii and San Francisco.
About 78,000 people of Tongan heritage were living in the US during the most recent census in 2020, and many regularly travel between the countries.
The diaspora in the US is an important part of Tonga’s economy, having long been the largest source of remittances to the Pacific nation.
The US has long been viewed as a “land of opportunity” for Tongans seeking education, wealth and a higher standard of living overseas.
“Since the 60s, most of the immigration was the result of Tongans coming through the Church of Jesus Christ [of] Latter-Day Saints,” said Tongan-born American citizen Semisi Fa’asolo, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
“It’s a pity that Tonga is experiencing this … there’s a possibility that Trump maybe cancels [the ban] so Tonga needs to step up its diplomacy.”
Experts have also warned that travel bans could pose problems for families hoping to visit US-based relatives on religious or cultural occasions, or to provide support.
The ABC approached newly elected Tongan Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, but he declined to comment.
His predecessor, ‘Aisake Eke, was critical of travel restrictions while in office and signalled his government’s displeasure at a proposed ban last year, telling local media it was “unacceptable”.
It was a turn in relations nearly three years after Washington opened a new embassy in Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa – a move meant to symbolise that America was re-engaging with the Pacific.
Critics link ban to ICE arrests
Many in the US have also condemned the move, accusing the Trump administration of racism and of being motivated by anti-immigrant sentiment.
“We need not enact these draconian restrictions,” Hawaii state senator Jarrett Keohokalole said.
He said visa overstay rates among Tongans living in the US could instead be solved through diplomacy.
Jarrett Keohokalole has described the travel restrictions as “draconian”.Supplied
Senator Keohokalole said the new restrictions went overboard and came off the back of a Supreme Court ruling interpreted as empowering US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to racially profile suspects.
“They’re allowed to take into account a person’s skin colour … and speech in their investigations,” he said.
“Basically what the law now allows is for [ICE] agents to stop, investigate, detain, and potentially arrest anyone that they think resembles a Tongan national.”
ICE officers have ramped up arrests since Donald Trump returned to power last year. (AP: Alex Brandon)AP / Alex Brandon
The ABC approached the US government for comment.
Other critics have linked the US travel restrictions to the Trump administration’s controversial ramp-up in arrests of suspected illegal immigrants.
National Tongan American Society executive director Fahina Pasi said Mr Trump’s policies – enforced by ICE on streets around the US – had caused anxiety among the Tongan diaspora.
Fahina Pasi says some Tongans in the US are afraid to leave the country in case they are refused re-entry. (Supplied: National Tongan American Society)Supplied / National Tongan American Society
“Not too many people are travelling [overseas] for fear that something might happen … that immigration [officials] might not let them back in for whatever reasons they have,” Ms Pasi said.
“[Mr Trump is] very racist and is always trying to put people of colour down.”
Pasi said her organisation had been actively advising the community about their legal rights and protections against arrest by ICE personnel.
“What we tell our people is, ‘If you see some strange people coming to your door that look kind of fishy, don’t open your door,’” she said.
“Slide this red card under and the red card basically says, ‘Contact our attorney.
-ABC
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Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix won’t be part of Australia Cup in the future.Photosport
Pre-season for A-League clubs Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix will look different after Football Australia move to kick them out of the Australia Cup competition.
The Australia Cup is a domestic knockout competition pitting amateur club sides against A-League teams and was played last year from July to October, during the A-League pre-season.
A revamped model for the Cup will come into play this year and Auckland and Wellington are not part of the new-look structure.
Auckland made their debut in the latest edition of the Cup making it as far as the semi-final stage, while the Phoenix had to go through qualifying to get into the competition and lost at the quarterfinals.
The Phoenix and Auckland both said participation in the the Cup was expensive for the clubs and disruptive to pre-season plans.
Auckland FC chief executive officer Nick Becker said he would “not lose any sleep” over being omitted from the Australia Cup.
He said he was neither “blindsided” or “bothered” by Football Australia’s decision.
“It cost us money to do it, any pre-season is going to cost a bit of money, but all our games were in Australia, because of the knockout nature of the tournament you wouldn’t know who you were playing until a week out or two weeks out so it made it incredibly difficult to plan a proper pre-season.”
The the club now had different pre-season plans to play opponents close to home and from further afield.
“It gives us a real opportunity to plan a pre-season where we can actually get some quality opposition, we know what’s happening… create our own little tournaments down here or there will be Premier League teams that are touring that might be interested in coming to Auckland.
“I think it’s more exciting for us than anything else.”
Becker felt that Football Australia wanted to keep the ‘Australia’ in the Australia Cup but also believed Auckland FC’s involvement in the OFC Pro League was a factor in the club being left out.
Auckland’s team in the Pro League is not the A-League side.
“For us the OFC Pro League is a huge opportunity if we win it we qualify for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup each year and if we’re the most successful team over four years we end up going to the FIFA Club World Cup.
“If you win Australia Cup you get something like Australian $25,000, you go to the Intercontinental Cup it’s more like $1.5 million and Club World Cup is a $10 million plus pay day so for us we know where our priorities and our focus lies.”
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Wellington City Council has found a second mistake in its rates bill calculation – but this time it is good news for ratepayers.
Late last year, Wellington City Council discovered an error, which meant it had undercharged the household and commercial sludge levy in the quarterly rates invoices sent in August and November 2025.
At the time, the council said it would review its billing system to discover how the mistake happened.
That review has shown Wellington City Council has invoiced its own rates correctly – but Greater Wellington rates have been overcharged by an average of $10 per residential account.
The city council’s strategy and finance officer, Andrea Reeves, said the impact of the error over the year was small, but it was “still a mistake that should not have happened”.
“We want to sincerely apologise for these errors,” she said.
“We are fixing the sludge levy error and Great Wellington rates error in the rates invoices people will receive in the week beginning 3 February 2026.
“Ratepayers will see a credit to reverse the overcharge, and an amount for the sludge levy undercharge – so ratepayers will have a lower catch up than we initially expected.”
The council would not be charging any penalties or interest as a result of either error, she said.
Meanwhile, ratepayers can expect a detailed apology and explanation letter with their rate invoices sent next week.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
It’s hard to generalise about the motivations of those involved. Politicians representing Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party attended. So did members of the wider community who oppose immigration policies and a smaller number of more extreme agitators.
The neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network formally disbanded to avoid the new hate offences passed earlier this month. But links have been uncovered between its former members and rally organisers. It remains to be seen how the authorities will approach far-right groups who continue to operate while skirting the law’s boundaries.
The strong anti-immigration sentiment expressed at these rallies raises complex questions about freedom of speech, rights to political protest and growing threats of extremism.
A fundamental source of these challenges is the difficulty in saying – especially in a democracy that values freedom of speech – when someone crosses the line from legitimate social and political beliefs into “extremism”.
It now seems rare for a day to go by without some mention of extremism in the news. But the meaning of this important word is also rarely explained or interrogated.
So what is extremism really, and how do we decide who and what is extremist?
Extremism: violent or not?
Defining extremism is difficult in part because most counter-terrorism policies target violent extremism.
acts of or support for violence to achieve social, political or legal outcomes or in response to specific political or social grievances.
If someone commits a violent act or supports violence, it’s easier to say they have crossed the line into behaviour worthy of government intervention.
Violent extremism can be a crime, such as advocating terrorism, urging violence or inciting racial hatred. Depending on the seriousness of the conduct and a person’s individual circumstances, though, the authorities might instead recommend a different type of intervention. This could include counselling or other support.
Confusing definitions
If we consider just the “extremism” part of violent extremism, things get much trickier.
The United Kingdom, in its “Prevent” strategy, has long targeted extremism, without requiring a link to violence. Until recently, it favoured a broad definition that said extremism meant actively opposing “fundamental British values”.
This is particularly unhelpful. Who gets to say what are fundamental British values, and what’s normal?
After the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7 2023, the UK government responded to these criticisms and offered a new definition of extremism. It focuses on threats to democracy:
Extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to:
negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or
undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or
intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2).
This definition improves on the previous one, though it blurs the boundaries between non-violent extremism, violent extremism and terrorism.
On the one hand, it could involve a plot to overthrow the UK government or destroy the fundamental rights of a group based on their ethnicity or religious beliefs.
On the other hand, it could mean someone seeking to deny a group’s rights based on hatred and intolerance. That would still be highly problematic, but it would be more in the realm of hate speech and hate crime than a terrorist coup.
Without a link to violence, extremism can be understood as views and behaviours that undermine the health of our democracy, or discriminate against groups based on their race, religion or other attributes, while creating permissive environments for serious harm.
Extremism may still breach civil or criminal laws, including for hate speech. But it would not trigger more serious terrorism offences – or else we would be in the realm of violent extremism.
How do we decide?
By calling something or someone extremist, we are saying the beliefs and behaviours fall outside legitimate contributions to the public sphere. This must mean something more than views we consider to be highly controversial, offensive or generally unpalatable.
Agreeing on this thin dividing line is probably an impossible task. Extremism occupies a liminal space where someone’s beliefs and behaviours do not involve or advocate violence, but there is a strong public sense that they are, nonetheless, undermining the terms of our (increasingly fragile) social contract.
Still, we should not be afraid to call out extremist behaviour where we see it. But we should take into account what the term means and consider whether the behaviour fits the definition.
Then, extremism will not just be another buzzword, but a term with real meaning that can help us all to determine appropriate limits for democratic debate.
Keiran Hardy receives funding from the Australian Research Council for a Discovery Project on conspiracy-fuelled extremism.
Since 2013, more than $400 million in tax-deductible donations have flowed through an Australian charity, including direct to IDF soldiers.
United Israel Appeal (UIA) Australia has remitted $376m to Israel via its global partner Keren Hayesod, according to Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) financial disclosures.
In 2024 alone, UIA Australia received $50.9 million in tax-deductible donations and sponsorships.
Financial statements from Keren Hayesod, the Israel-based body that receives and distributes UIA funds, show it received A$323 million in global donations in 2024, with 98.5 percent originating overseas.
On that basis, Australian fundraising accounted for roughly 13 percent of Keren Hayesod’s worldwide donation base last year.
United Israel Appeal Australia donations. Source: Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
‘Every dollar aligned with Israel’s national priorities’ At the UIA Victoria AGM in November 2025, UIA leadership were explicit about the organisation’s role in Israel. David Slade, president of UIA Victoria, told members:
“We are the only organisation in Australia raising funds for Israel that holds a seat at every table of decision-making authority mandated to rebuild the country from the north to the south.”
“We are proud that every dollar we distribute is aligned with Israel’s national priorities.”
Julian Black, outgoing federal treasurer of UIA, reported that $39.2 million had been sent to Israel nationally, including $14.4 million from Victoria, in the 2025 campaign period to mid-November.
UIA Australia describes its central mission as supporting aliyah, “ascent”, referring to Jewish immigration to Israel, and strengthening Israeli society. They state that they “raise funds within Australia and transfer them directly to Keren Hayesod-UIA”.
Keren Hayesod, founded in 1920, describes itself as the “preeminent worldwide fundraising arm for the people of Israel,” operating in dozens of countries. UIA Australia functions as its Australian partner, channelling hundreds of millions of dollars in tax-deductible donations to the fund.
At the 2025 AGM, Slade said:
“This is not theory. It’s delivery. It’s national in scale, national in scope. It aligns with Israel’s priorities and is executed by our global partners.”
Support for ‘lone immigrant soldiers’ Among the programmes UIA promotes in Australia is assistance for “lone immigrant soldiers”, individuals who migrate to Israel and serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) without immediate family support in the country.
Through the “Wings Programme”, UIA partners with the Jewish Agency for Israel to provide grants and assistance to immigrant IDF soldiers. UIA states that they supported 2200 lone immigrant soldiers in 2024.
According to a report compiled by the Knesset, in August 2024, there were 6731 lone soldiers serving in the IDF.
At the same AGM, Slade disclosed that his own son is currently serving in the IDF as a lone soldier, describing himself as “a lifelong Zionist”.
UIA also funds the Net@ programme, which provides technology education for youth. Promotional materials for the programme state that graduates are “strong candidates for elite IDF units”.
Overseas funding networks and settlement links In 2022, Pastor Larry Huch raised $8 million for Keren Hayesod through his ministry to help “settlements take over produce farms in the West Bank”.
“One of the main Bible prophecies is helping Jews return to the nation of Israel, so we started working with Keren Hayesod with projects such as making aliyah. We help settlements take over produce farms in the West Bank, which is Judea and Samaria,” Pastor Hutch said.
According to an analysis by Canadian human rights organisation Just Peace Advocates, public filings by UIA Canada show that funds linked to the broader Keren Hayesod network have supported organisations assisting IDF veterans and institutions located in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Comparable programme-level detail is not disclosed in Australian ACNC filings, which aggregate remittances to Keren Hayesod.
UIA Australia did not respond to questions regarding whether they have oversight of which initiatives are supported by the funds they provide to Keren Kayesod and whether they engage in due diligence practices to ensure that these programmes comply with ACNC External Conduct Standards and DGR conditions.
A charity operating in a genocide UIA’s fundraising expansion has occurred during the Gaza genocide and escalating violence across the occupied Palestinian territories.
A January 2026 report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights found that Israeli laws, policies and practices have created “asphyxiating” conditions for Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The report stated that there has been an “unprecedented deterioration of the human rights situation” since October 2023, as Israeli government “further expanded the use of unlawful force, arbitrary detention and torture, repression of civil society and undue restrictions on media freedoms, severe movement restrictions, settlement expansion and related violations in the occupied West Bank”.
In his National Press Club address, Chris Sidoti, a commissioner on the UN Commission of Inquiry on Palestine and Israel, stated that in light of the commission’s finding that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza,
“anyone who has served in any arm of the Israeli military in Gaza should be treated as a suspect.”
UIA CEO Yair Miller previously told Michael West Media that “the United Israel Appeal is fully compliant with Australian law”. They did not respond to a follow-up request for comment regarding the matters discussed in this article.
Stephanie Tran is a journalist with a background in both law and journalism. She has worked at The Guardian and as a paralegal, where she assisted Crikey’s defence team in the high-profile defamation case brought by Lachlan Murdoch. Her reporting has been recognised nationally, earning her the 2021 Democracy’s Watchdogs Award for Student Investigative Reporting and a nomination for the 2021 Walkley Student Journalist of the Year Award.This article was first published by Michael West Media and is republished with permission.
Messages written on an Auckland fire engine protesting firefighters’ working conditions.RNZ / Rayssa Almeida
Fire and Emergency says some of its firefighters are afflicted by angst over union signs on fire trucks, feeling their image is being tarnished.
The signs – such as ones saying ‘dire emergency’ – have been emblazoned on trucks and fire stations for months.
National MPs questioned what FENZ was doing about the signs – and about damaging fires during strikes – at a parliamentary select committee on Wednesday.
The agency said it could not do anything about the signs, and the firefighters’ union said nor should it.
The industrial dispute has gone on for over a year and a half, and the two sides remained far apart, according to both FENZ and the union on Thursday.
MPs had been quizzing the agency over its plans to both save $150 million – the money does not return to the government’s consolidated fund but will be reinvested or act as a buffer because levy income has become more volatile – and adapt to the likes of more wildfires and extreme storms, during the routine annual review of FENZ.
‘That can’t be what a professional workforce does’
Ōtaki MP Tim Costley raised the issue of the protest signs, stating, “That can’t be what a professional workforce does can it?”
FENZ chairperson Rebecca Keoghan responded: “We have asked the same thing at board level and I know the team has looked into it.”
Chief executive Kerry Gregory then said he was picking up on “a lot of angst” – even from some career firefighters – but mostly volunteers.
“I get a lot of feedback from our volunteers saying we need to do something about this, you know, it’s disrespectful, it’s not professional, it’s affecting our image.”
He had checked legally to ensure there was nothing they could do, and confirmed the signs were covered by the notified strike action.
“Effectively you haven’t done anything because you believe you can’t?” Costley asked.
“Essentially,” Gregory said.
The Professional Firefighters’ Union national secretary Wattie Watson said it was FENZ that had disrespected personnel in the dispute.
“Putting information on the appliances so that the public can understand what we are fighting for is not disrespectful.”
People regularly came up to ask firefighters to explain the signs, she told RNZ on Thursday.
The large fire at a business in Pakuranga on 9 January.EAST SKATE CLUB / SUPPLIED
‘There are delays and the risk of those almost daily’
It took volunteer crews half an hour to get to the Pita House shop run by Syrian brothers. One brother went to hospital from stress and heat.
FENZ executives and Keoghan told MPs they had asked the union multiple times if it could budge but it would not.
“To not be able to sit down and say when human life or property is at risk these are the conditions our firefighters can be made available I think is unacceptable,” deputy chief executive Megan Stiffler said.
On 9 January in an online post, FENZ accused the union of “gambling with the public’s safety”. Government ministers also criticised the union at the time, which the union rejected.
Stiffler told the select committee on Wednesday that senior officers who went to the fire had to stand and wait, causing stress.
“I spoke with the incident controller – it had a huge impact on him, seeing that family’s livelihood go.
“We have to find a solution where the community is safe,” she said.
Gregory said they should be able to reach an agreement with the union and would keep trying, adding it was pleasing the union called off another one-hour strike due during last week’s storms.
“We’re not seeking legislative change in there,” he said.
FENZ had presented them with a “long list” of types of incidents the union might call off the strikes for, though the action had strict legal parameters around it, including advance notice.
“FENZ is attempting to go behind that notice, and any change that we give them would give them an argument that these notices are no longer valid,” she said.
The Pakuranga fire was not an insolated event.
“Unfortunately that fire occurred, but those fires occur and there are delays and the risk of those almost daily in FENZ.”
The agency did not inform the public when it did not have enough staff to cover shifts, or trucks were out of action.
“That hour that the firefighters are striking, yes, there is that risk but we want the public to understand that risk can occur at any time … and they won’t know that.”
The agency should more focus on settling the industrial dispute, Watson said.
The two sides were in talks early this week and meet again next week.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Mould on the bathroom walls of one of the rental properties.Supplied/MBIE
A landlord and his property management business have been ordered to pay more than $60,000 in exemplary damages after tenants at 34 properties complained of cockroaches, sewage overflows and holes in their walls and floors.
Quan Shu, also known as Marshall, and ARent1 Ltd were investigated by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team after complaints from tenants in Auckland and Rotorua.
They were jointly ordered to pay $61,150.44 by the Tenancy Tribunal for breaches across 34 different tenancies. The co-landlords have also been restrained from committing the same unlawful acts, including failing to provide premises in a reasonable state of cleanliness and failing to lodge bonds, for a period of three years.
That means any further breach can attract more serious penalties.
Shu is the director of ARent1.
A hole in the ceiling at one of the rental properties.Supplied/MBIE
The tribunal said a range of recurring issues were identified during site visits by TCIT, including smoke alarms and extractor fans not working or not installed, damaged gutters, excessive rubbish and no ground moisture barrier.
Tenants also complained of a cockroach infestation, sewage overflows, and holes in the walls and floorboards.
Mould on the bedroom ceiling of one of the properties.Supplied/MBIE
The tribunal said Shu and ARent1 had also unlawfully entered clauses in tenancy agreements, allowing for immediate termination if tenants did not pay rent on time. There were also damaged gutters and drainage systems, and excess rubbish and poor sanitation, it said.
The adjudicator noted Shu’s operation was sizeable and he would have been aware of his obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act, including the requirement to comply with Healthy Homes Standards and to lodge bonds within 23 working days.
Shu accepted that he had breached his obligations under the Act in multiple instances but argued his actions were not intentional and partly arose from the fact that he was an inexperienced landlord who had not intended to operate large numbers of tenancies.
Bare floorboards with no underfloor insulation at one of the properties.Supplied/MBIE
TCIT national manager Brett Wilson said landlords legally had to comply with the law.
“It is not an excuse to say that they had not intended to operate as a large-scale landlord. Operating a tenancy is a business and that comes with responsibilities for landlords to comply with all legal requirements,” he said.
“Mr Shu and ARent1 Limited displayed a pattern of neglect and non-compliance across dozens of individual properties, including failing to lodge tenants’ bond on time and including unlawful clauses in tenancy agreements.
“Mr Shu acknowledged some bond payments deposited into his bank account were directed towards the payment of personal loans. Bond payments are not the landlord’s own money, and it is simply not acceptable for them to use tenant funds to pay for their own personal financial obligations.”
A disconnected downpipe at one of the rentals.Supplied/MBIE
The tribunal noted that unlawful clauses in tenancy agreements, which included allowing for immediate termination of a tenancy if the tenants did not pay rent on time or the landlord wanted to sell or repair the property, directly attempted to defeat and evade the protections available to tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act.
Sarina Gibbon, of Tenancy Advisory, said it was not reasonable for a landlord to claim naiveté.
“I think this is a continuation of the old guard, a very bygone time of landlording, which unfortunately we’re still seeing some of it in the market at the moment… For so, so long in New Zealand, we’ve allowed landlords to get away with so much and profit off these horrendous properties that essentially profit off people’s miseries, right? So, that is what the last 15 years of residential tenancy law development has been all about, continuously dragging our rental sector into 2026.”
A gap in the window frame at one of the properties.Supplied/MBIE
Gibbon said she thought the TCIT absolutely did its job.
“Ignorance of the law is no excuse. That’s well accepted across our legal system… I think if anything, anyone who owns that many should take more care because their ability to do harm is even greater,” she said.
“With any sort of regulator funded by the public kitty, they’ll have to look at cost-benefits… in this instance, I can see why TCIT looked into this matter, because (this particular landlord has 34 separate tenancies, and the scope to do harm is so much greater than a landlord who has one tenancy with one disgruntled tenant.
“If you are somehow aware that your landlord is operating a big portfolio, or you’re with a property management agency, and you know that they operate a sizable portfolio, and the bad practices are endemic throughout the entire business practice up and down, I would characterise TCIT as perhaps a more efficient way to get some redress.”
She said tenants should have more power in the current market, where rents are softer and there is less competition.
When most of us look out at the ocean, we see a mostly flat blue surface stretching to the horizon. It’s easy to imagine the sea beneath as calm and largely static – a massive, still abyss far removed from everyday experience.
But the ocean is layered, dynamic and constantly moving, from the surface down to the deepest seafloor. While waves, tides and currents near the coast are familiar and accessible, far less is known about what happens several kilometres below, where the ocean meets the seafloor.
Our new research, published in the journal Ocean Science, shows water near the the seafloor is in constant motion, even in the abyssal plains of the Pacific Ocean. This has important consequences for climate, ecosystems and how we understand the ocean as an interconnected system.
Enter the abyss
The central and eastern Pacific Ocean include some of Earth’s largest abyssal regions (places where the sea is more than 3,000 metres deep). Here, most of the seafloor lies four to six kilometres below the surface. It is shaped by vast abyssal plains, fracture zones and seamounts.
It is cold and dark, and the water and ecosystems here are under immense pressure from the ocean above.
Just above the seafloor, no matter the depth, sits a region known as the bottom mixed layer. This part of the ocean is relatively uniform in temperature, salinity and density because it is stirred through contact with the seafloor.
Rather than a thin boundary, this layer can extend from tens to hundreds of metres above the seabed. It plays a crucial role in the movement of heat, nutrients and sediments between the pelagic ocean and the seabed, including the beginning of the slow return of water from the bottom of the ocean toward the surface as part of global ocean circulation.
Observations focused on the bottom mixed layer are rare, but this is beginning to change. Most ocean measurements focus on the upper few kilometres, and deep observations are scarce, expensive and often decades apart.
But the finer details of how these waters interact with seafloor features in ways that intermittently stir and reshape the bottom layer of the ocean has remained largely unknown.
Deep sea ecosystems are under immense pressure from the ocean above. NOAA Photo Library
Investigating the abyss
To investigate the Pacific abyssal ocean, my colleagues and I combined new surface-to-seafloor measurements collected during a trans-Pacific expedition with high-quality repeat data about the physical features of the ocean gathered over the past two decades.
These observations allowed us to examine temperature and pressure all the way down to the seafloor over a wide range of latitudes and longitudes.
We then compared multiple scientific methods for identifying the bottom mixed layer and used machine learning techniques to understand what factors best explain the variations in its thickness.
Rather than being a uniform layer, we found the bottom mixed layer in the abyssal Pacific varies dramatically. In some regions it was less than 100m thick; in others it exceeded 700m.
This variability is not random; it’s controlled by the seafloor depth and the interactions between waves generated by surface tides and rough landscapes on the seabed.
In other words, the deepest ocean is not quietly stagnant as is often imagined. It is continually stirred by remote forces, shaped by seafloor features, and dynamically connected to the rest of the ocean above.
Just as coastal waters are shaped by waves, currents and sediment movement, the abyssal ocean is shaped by its own set of drivers. However, it is operating over larger distances and longer timescales.
Topographic features of the seafloor intermittently stir and reshape the bottom layer of the ocean. NOAA Photo Library
Connected to the rest of the world
This matters for several reasons.
First, the bottom mixed layer influences how heat is stored and redistributed in the ocean, affecting long-term climate change. Some ocean and climate models still simplify seabed mixing, which can lead to errors in how future climate is projected.
Second, it plays a role in transporting sediment and seabed ecosystems. As interest grows in deep-sea mining and other activities on the high seas, understanding how the seafloor environment changes, and importantly how seafloor disturbances might spread, becomes increasingly important.
Our results highlight how little of the deep ocean we actually observe.
The deep ocean is not a silent, static place. It is active, connected to the oceans above and changing. If we want to make informed decisions about the future of the high seas, we need to understand what’s happening at the very bottom in space and time.
Jessica Kolbusz receives funding from the marine research organisation Inkfish LLC. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article, or the decision to submit it for publication.
After the tragic death of Canadian backpacker Piper James on K’gari (Fraser Island) on January 19, a coroner found the 19–year–old had been bitten by dingoes while she was still alive, but the most likely cause of death was drowning.
Days later, the Queensland government announced it would cull the entire pack of ten dingoes seen near where Piper’s body was found. Most of those animals have now been killed.
Authorities justified the targeted cull on “public safety” grounds, while also signalling a strong desire to keep tourism moving. Queensland Tourism Minister Andrew Powell reassured tourism operators “the island is open” and urged people to continue to visit.
The cull took place without the knowledge or approval of the Butchulla people, the Traditional Owners of K’Gari. James’ parents also publicly opposed a cull, saying it was “the last thing” their nature-loving daughter would have wanted. There has been backlash from scientific experts, as well as the public.
So, does killing dingoes actually make K’gari safer for people?
The perfect storm
K’gari’s dingoes (called Wongari by the Butchulla) are a population of high conservation and cultural value on this World Heritage–listed sand island. Estimates put their numbers at between 70 and 200.
Huge visitor numbers (about 450,000 per year) to the roughly 1,600 square kilometre island means dingoes and humans share the same beaches and come into contact in ways they generally don’t on the mainland. Most encounters are harmless, even enjoyable. Less than 1% of visitors experience a negative interaction and many tourists visit the island specifically to see the dingoes.
Of course, risk increases when dingoes and people are in close proximity. Dingoes are often deliberately or carelessly rewarded with food scraps or find rubbish, which encourages loitering.
Most injuries caused by dingoes are minor, such as nips, bites and scratches. Serious attacks by dingoes are rare on K’gari and the mainland. Children are most vulnerable given their smaller size.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has consistently worked to reduce incidents. Their “Be dingo safe” campaign includes education, signs, fenced areas and even “dingo sticks” to deter the animals from approaching. But too often these safety warnings are not heeded. People feed dingoes or leave food in their tents or bags, come too close to dingoes and let kids roam unsupervised.
For an apex predator, dingoes are relatively small and dog-like. To many visitors, they don’t look especially dangerous, and people forget dingoes are wild predators.
A “dingo-safe” storage cage for visitors to secure food and belongings on K’gari. Bradley Smith, CC BY-ND
Decades of lethal control
Authorities have long relied on lethal control of dingoes on K’gari. Between 2001 and 2013, 110 dingoes were killed. In 2001, after the death of nine-year-old Clinton Gage, 28 were immediately killed. In a typical year, one to two are killed.
Removing up to ten dingoes carries serious costs for a small island population. Genetically, the K’gari population has low diversity and an effective population size of about 25 (meaning only about 25 animals are effectively passing genes on, even though more dingoes exist). Studies have found inbreeding, genetic isolation and declining genetic variation in K’gari dingoes over the past two decades.
High levels of inbreeding may lead to physical deformities, reduced breeding success and an increased risk of local extinction. On an island, there is limited scope for “new” dingoes and their genes to arrive, so every avoidable death is important.
That is why our 2025 population viability analysis was sobering. We found if the number of dingo deaths stays close to natural levels, the population could remain stable. But extra deaths due to mass culls or disease outbreaks expose the animals to higher extinction risk. This makes it more likely the island’s dingoes could die out. In the highest-risk scenarios we modelled (that includes several mass culling events), the risk of extinction becomes substantial in about 50 years. Survival can fall close to zero by 100 years.
A dingo becomes a photo opportunity for tourists on K’gari’s shoreline. Bradley Smith, CC BY
Culling rarely solves safety problems
Records of dingo incidents on K’gari offer little evidence killing dingoes delivers lasting safety. Our analysis of the “highest severity” incidents reported found the island had an average of 10.7 reports a year from 2001 to 2015. There was no clear downward trend in incidents, even though more than 110 dingoes were destroyed in that period.
What we did find was a predictable seasonal pattern. About 40% of serious incidents took place during breeding season (March to May) and 30% during whelping (June to August). These are periods when dingoes are more active and social dynamics intensify. During breeding, dingoes (especially younger males) may range more widely and test boundaries. During whelping, adults can become more vigilant and take greater foraging risks to meet the demands of pups.
The chance of serious incidents rose and fell with dingo life history and behaviour, as well as what people did around them. Incidents are not explained by visitor numbers alone.
When a dingo approaches people or loiters near them, they can be labelled as “problematic” and are more likely to be culled. But these behaviours aren’t abnormal in a wildlife tourism setting. They are predictable responses to people, food and opportunity. Younger males are often the most persistent around people, but become less exploratory as they mature or disperse.
A dingo rests beside rubbish bins on K’gari. These bins have now been fenced. Bradley Smith, CC BY-ND
A people problem, not a dingo problem
K’gari’s dingoes are doing what wild predators do, just as sharks and crocodiles do in Australia’s oceans and rivers.
Our safety depends on how we behave in wild places. To reduce risky encounters with wildlife, secure your food and waste, keep your kids close, don’t venture out alone, respect park guidelines and stop giving rewards such as food.
Killing dingoes won’t make K’gari safer. Changing human behaviour and attitudes will.
Bradley Smith is an unpaid director of the Australian Dingo Foundation, a non-profit environmental charity that advocates for dingo conservation. He is also a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) dingo working group.
Kylie M. Cairns receives scientific research funding from the Australian Dingo Foundation, the Australia and Pacific Science Foundation, the NSW and ACT state governments and donations from the general public. She is an unpaid director of the Paddy Pallin Foundation and provides scientific advice to the Australian Dingo Foundation and the New Guinea Highland Wild Dog Foundation. She serves as co-coordinator of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) dingo working group.
Donald Trump took time out this week from dramatic events at home and abroad to reveal three new design concepts for his proposed “Independence Arch” in Washington DC.
All three renderings resemble the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris, although one features gilded livery not unlike Trump’s chosen adornments to the Oval Office in the White House.
Commissioned in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, the triumphal arch draws on a long history of celebrating military conquest, from Roman emperors to Napoleon Bonaparte.
As such, it aligns seamlessly with Trump’s foreign policy and his stated mission for the United States to control the western hemisphere – as he has dubbed it, the “Donroe Doctrine”.
But as many have been asking, while the design is a copy of an iconic monument, is a personal tribute necessarily the best way to mark the anniversary of America’s break with absolute rule and the British monarchy?
The ‘Arc de Trump’
When Trump first displayed models of the proposed arch last October, a reporter asked him who it was for. Trump replied “Me. It’s going to be beautiful.”
In a December update, the president said the new arch “will be like the one in Paris, but to be honest with you, it blows it away. It blows it away in every way.”
There was one exception, he noted: “The only thing they have is history […] I always say [it’s] the one thing you can’t compete with, but eventually we’ll have that history too.”
The president clearly believes his arch will be part of creating that history. “It’s the only city in the world that’s of great importance that doesn’t have a triumphal arch,” he said of Washington DC.
Set to be located near Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, the site would put the new structure in a visual conversation with many of the most famous landmarks in the national capital.
This also aligns with other projects that will leave Trump’s mark on the physical fabric of Washington: changes to the White House last year that included paving over the famous Rose Garden, decorating the Oval Office in rococo gold, and demolishing the East Wing for a US$400 million ballroom extension.
The “Arc de Trump” (as it has been branded) is now the “top priority” for Vince Haley, the director of the Domestic Policy Council for the White House.
Triumph and design
The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, located at the top of the Champs-Élysées, was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806 to honour the French imperial army following his victory at the Battle of Austerlitz. It was not finished until 1836, under the reign of King Louis Philippe I.
Architects for the project, Jean-François Thérèse Chalgrin and Jean-Arnaud Raymond, drew on classical arches for inspiration, with Rome’s Arch of Titus (circa 85 CE) as the main source. It was built by Emperor Domitian (51–96 CE), a cruel and ostentatious tyrant who was popular with the people but battled with the Senate and limited its power to make laws.
Domitian commissioned the arch to commemorate the deification of his brother Titus, and his military victory crushing the rebellion in Judea.
Given its inspiration, Trump’s proposed arch doesn’t reference any uniquely American design features. But the neoclassical style recalls earlier monuments that also reference antiquity.
The Washington Monument, for example, is built in the form of an Egyptian obelisk. A four-sided pillar, it tapers as it rises and is topped with a pyramid, a tribute to the sun god Ra.
But it also incorporated an element that was meant to symbolise American technological advancement and innovation – a pyramid cap made of aluminium.
When the obelisk was completed in 1884, aluminium was rare because the process for refining it had not been perfected. The top of the monument was the largest piece of cast aluminium on the planet at that time.
‘Truth and sanity’
Trump’s triumphal arch is likely destined to join a long debate about the merits of public monuments and what they represent.
During the Black Lives Matter movement, many statues of historical figures were removed from public display because they were seen as celebrations of racism and imperialism.
Trump has since restored at least one Confederate statue toppled during that time, and his desire to add a new monument to himself should come as little surprise.
During the Jim Crow era of racial segregation and throughout the civil rights movement, there was a sharp spike in the number of monuments erected to Confederate soldiers and generals.
Just as tearing down those statues was a statement, so is the creation of a new memorial to promote Trump’s positive interpretation of the nation’s past. It is also consistent with his administration’s declared mission of “restoring truth and sanity to American history”.
Maybe the more immediate question is whether the Independence Arch can even be built by Independence Day on July 4, a tall order even for this president. As for its reception, history will have to be the judge.
Garritt C. Van Dyk has received funding from the Getty Research Institute.
